Twin River valet parkers say they may strike
LINCOLN – Members of the labor union representing valets at Twin River Casino have voted unanimously to authorize a strike over cuts in health care benefits.
Matt Maini, a union representative with Teamsters Local 251, which represents 42 parking valets at the casino, said the unanimous vote was taken Tuesday.
Maini said that despite years of growing revenue, Twin River is demanding “deep cuts” in the health care benefits of the employees.
“Stripping low-wage workers of affordable health care is, to quote the president, mean,” said Maini. “Washington got that message. Twin River Casino needs to hear it too.”
According to Maini, Twin River pays valets $4.50 an hour plus tips.
The union says Twin River changed health coverage to a different plan offered by the same company in January without collective bargaining. The workers union says the move violates federal fair labor practices. As a result, union members are paying higher deductibles, co-pays and out-of-pocket costs
“As a Rhode Islander, my tax dollars are used to build Twin River’s business,” said Corey Almeida, a valet at the casino. “That money shouldn’t be used to attack my family and cut health care for me and my kids.”
Twin River Casino spokesperson Patti Doyle sent out a statement Friday, saying “Negotiations are ongoing. There has been no communication to the property that a strike is imminent.”
According to Maini, the union valet employees voted unanimously to authorize a strike. That does not mean the employees are on strike now, but will go on strike if called to by the union’s negotiating team.
“We’re hoping to reach a fair agreement. But we’re prepared to do whatever it takes to protect our families and the health of our kids,” said Chris Boss, a Teamster member at Twin River.
Earlier this month, members of the labor union representing food and beverage workers at the casino opted to enact a strike if the company did not come up with a deal. The members of Unite Here Local 26 – a union representing 10,000 casino, hotel, food service and airport employees in Rhode Island and Massachusetts – were protesting a change to their health care coverage they say has resulted in higher deductibles and less coverage.
Union workers were on the picket line for about three minutes on June 9 when the casino released a statement confirming a tentative settlement with the union.
Had the strike been carried out, it would have been the first strike of Unite Here members in Rhode Island since 1980, according to the union.