The Detroit Casino Workers’ Strike: A Call for Boycott Against Online Betting Platforms
Detroit casino workers have been on strike for nearly a month. To bolster their cause, the Detroit Casino Council (DCC) has urged a boycott of online betting platforms, including FanDuel, ESPN BET, Hollywood iCasino, and BetMGM. The workers’ union, UNITE HERE Local 24, stands in solidarity with the DCC in this move.
The DCC announced that a digital ad campaign will commence on Nov. 13 to discourage the use of these apps until the strike is resolved. This comes after their contracts with MGM Grand Detroit, Hollywood at Greektown, and MotorCity casinos expired on Oct. 17. The strike has persisted despite the general expiration of these contracts as workers continue to push for fair wages, improved retirement benefits, and protections for their roles in light of new technology implementation.
Nia Winston, the president of UNITE HERE Local 24, remarked, “Online sports betting and online casino platforms like FanDuel, ESPN BET, and BetMGM are critical sources of revenue for the companies that operate Detroit’s three casinos.” She emphasized that this boycott is an additional means for workers to amplify their demands. The goal is to secure favorable terms that are beneficial to the entire workforce.
Workers intend to leverage the economic leverage their boycott may stir to pressure the casinos to reach an agreement. The Journal of the unions involved in this boycott – UNITE HERE Local 24, the United Auto Workers, Teamster Local 1038, Operating Engineers Local 32, and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters – are in support of the Detroit casino workers’ mission and will stand with them until they reach a fair contract which addresses the needs and expectations of the workers.