OCEAN CITY – Union officials representing out of contract workers at Ocean Down’s casino say they have overwhelmingly voted down what the casino is calling their “final offer.”
Last week saw the second picket line in as many weeks organized by casino employees and Unite Here local 7, which is a national organization that represents workers in the hotel, gaming, food service, transportation, and manufacturing industries.
“Casino management failed to offer the increases for the year-round workers that we have been asking for,” said Mishy Leiblum, lead organizer for Unite Here local 7. “As a result, the workers voted down their last proposal by a margin of 91%.”
Casino officials said this week, however, that what the workers voted down was, in fact, the casino’s final offer.
“We brought back what we believe was a very reasonable offer that included additional benefits for our employees,” said Bobbi Sample, Ocean Downs Assistant General Manager. “However, we received no word from the union that they have turned it down officially, despite what they are circulating in the press.”
Less than 100 of the casino’s approximately 240 employees are unionized, but for those who are, they have been working without of a contract since October.
Both sides have accused the other of stalling negotiations in recent months, and as recently as last week, the contrasting interpretation of how each side defines “reasonable compromise” in order to get a new contract on the books seemed rather stark.
“We are willing to go back to the bargaining table and start back at square one,” said Leiblum, “but we don’t understand why the casino’s management refuses to meet us halfway.”
Ocean Downs General Manager Joe Cavilla told The Dispatch last week that the union was asking for a 33-percent increase in starting salaries and as much as a 6-percent annual increase. Casino management countered with subtle raise adjustments in accordance with rising minimum wage laws, additional benefits and the 3-percent annual salary increase.
Sample said this week that the casino tried to sweeten its offer to its employees by offering additional paid sick and vacation time, paid lunches, and other added benefits after an employee reaches his/her one-year anniversary of employment.
“From our perspective, we haven’t changed how we are interacting with the union officials throughout these negotiations,” said Sample. “We still want to find a resolution, but that was our final offer, so we’ll have to discuss what happens next.”
The union and the casino’s workers voted the offer down.
“The gaming industry promised good jobs,” said Ocean Downs Cage Operator Jim Rose. “Ocean Downs revenues keep going up. The cost of living keeps going up. It feels like every goes up except for our wages.”
While casino revenue has increased in each of its five years, casino officials say they go to great lengths to keep 85 percent of its workforce employed year round with benefits, despite a 42-percent drop in business in the offseason.
Leiblum hinted what could be next is third party involvement by way of a federal mediator.
“After our last picket event on March 18, there was a commissioner from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) who contacted us and has expressed a desire to get involved to help resolve the negotiations,” said Leiblum. “We are in favor of having a mediator get involved, but we have not heard from the casino.”
Sample said the casino has no intentions of altering its final offer, nor would the company “have any interest” in a mediator’s involvement.
Yet, with the casino’s “hand” clearly laid out on the table, as the summer season gets closer, union officials may hang their hopes on their belief that the presence of picket signs and protestors will impact the crowds of tourists arriving at Ocean Downs.
“The casino is not having trouble affording groceries, or paying for gas like some of their employees are,” said Leiblum. “So, if this extends into the summer months and it turns into bad ‘PR’ for the casino, we can’t control that. We aren’t asking for the sky. We just want fairness.”