A strike by more than 330 unionized UNITE HERE! Local 26 food and beverage workers at Lincoln-based Twin River Casino unhappy with a company switch to a more expensive health care plan was averted on Thursday, June 8, when employees and Twin River Management Group settled.
And while neither the union nor Twin River were immediately willing to share details of the settlement, the story here is about more than a standard union-management conflict. A gaming union strike can have a major impact on state resources given that income from gambling is the third-largest single source of revenue for Rhode Island. In fiscal 2016, for example, Rhode Island’s general revenue was enhanced to the tune of $370 million from casino and lottery earnings.
But as Twin River looks to build a new casino in Tiverton to replace its poorly performing Newport Grand, the issue of union power is an important one for the entire state to consider.
Lacking right-to-work laws, Anthony R. Wheeler, associate dean of Bryant University’s College of Business, said the state’s historically strong union presence will continue even with additional casinos.
“It’s not like Connecticut and Massachusetts will have a competitive advantage. Almost all New England states do not have right-to-work laws and will be likely unionized,” he said, speaking of additional casinos in planning or under construction in the two states bordering Rhode Island.
Brian Lang, president of UNITE HERE! Local 26, feels the vote to strike was not part of a union plan, but a reaction to the health care policy changes.
He also said that it “wasn’t clear” what role unions will play as the regional casino count rises. In addition to the planned 2018 opening of the Tiverton casino, at least four more casinos are on the books – First Light Resort and Casino in Taunton, Wynn Boston Harbor in Everett, Mass., MGM in Springfield, Mass., and a yet-to-be-named Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribe-run casino in East Windsor, Conn.
Citing decreased interest in Atlantic City after casino construction in New York and Maryland, Lang said “it’s hard to tell” what will happen next but fears a loss of interest in Rhode Island casinos.
And while Lang does not know if UNITE HERE! membership will extend to Tiverton, Michael F. Sabitoni, Laborers’ International Union Local 711 business manager, which represents Twin River table game dealers, plans to extend membership to Tiverton. He believes unionization will increase because table games are permitted at Tiverton.
Cathy Rayner, president of the United Auto Workers Local 7770 representing Newport Grand workers, also expects membership to grow once Tiverton opens. Feeling more empowered as the casino count grows, Rayner said Rhode Island gaming unions will remain strong because of the state’s dependence on its revenue.
