You would think a casino in Pittsburgh would be union friendly since Pittsburgh is a UNION town, however this is not the case at
Rivers Casino in downtown Pittsburgh. On Monday 84 casino security professionals including the surveillance officers will be voting this Monday November 9th to decide if they wish to be represented by the International Union, Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America
(SPFPA) the largest, oldest and fastest growing 9(b)3 union in the United States Today.
The Rivers Casino has hired the notorious High Priced Union-Busting law firm of
Jackson and Lewis.
"While management is willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on
Union-Busters our Casino security professionals only make $9.50 per hour". stated Steve Maritas Organizing Director for the
SPFPA.
Maritas also stated, Since SPFPA's appearance Rivers Casino has begun a series of mandatory Union-Busting meetings on a daily basis. At these Union-Busting mandatory meetings supervisors have been using psychological warfare and FEAR tactics against its employees. In addition these same supervisors in a desperate attempt to stop this Union drive have been threatening these officers with loss of wages and benefits and other conditions of employment if they choose to vote YES for the Union.
While some of these casino officers have naturally bought into this FEAR campaign, which is common in these types of Union-Busting campaigns the majority of these officers have stood strong and have seen right through the lies being told to them.
One Rivers Casino security professional who wished not to be identified in fear of retaliation stated we are united and educated on the Union-Busting tactics being used against us by Rivers Casino and their Union-Busting law firm Jackson and Lewis.
Every Union-Busting tactic being used against us could be found on this website. www.Unionbusting101.Com Word for Word.
These same casino security professionals are confident that they will win Mondays election, while Rivers Casino is showing it is frustrated that their Union-Busting FEAR campaign is not working. This is evident by the fact that just last night a Rivers Casino nightshift supervisor John Kovach had demanded that the 22 plus casino security professionals working on that shift remove their SPFPA Union RESPECT pins from their jackets. When they refused their supervisor John Kovach then
Physically Assaulted at least one of the officers by Physically Removing his SPFPA RESPECT Button from his jacket.
Based on John Kovach actions and other illegal tactics being used by Rivers Casino and their supervisors the
SPFPA has now filed Federal Charges with the NLRB.
In addition to the above the
United Steel Workers USW is now conducting an organizing campaign to organize the rest of the departments in an effort to help improve their low wages, benefits and other conditions of employment.
About the Rivers Casino
The
Rivers Casino is a joint venture between Walton Street Capital, High Pitt Gaming and Don Barden. Neil Bluhm, the Founding Principal of
Walton Street Capital, has over four decades of experience developing commercial, residential and gaming properties. Greg Carlin, the CEO of High Pitt Gaming, LLC, has over a decade of gaming investment and management experience. Other casino projects owned and managed by Mr. Bluhm and Mr. Carlin include the Fallsview Casino Resort in Ontario, the Riverwalk Casino & Hotel in Vicksburg, MS, and the SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia.
August 8 - Rivers Casino was Given Final Approval by
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
Tags: Rivers Casino, Casino Security Officers, Walton Street Capital, High Pitt Gaming, Don Barden, Neil Bluhm, Greg Carlin, John Kovach, Jackson and Lewis, Union Busting, SPFPA, Steve Maritas, USW, United Steel Workers