Poker Dealer Union Petition Could Change Indian Casinos

If a dealer gets sick and misses time, there is a strong likelihood that he or she will be replaced, and there is not a thing legally that the dealer can do about this bad fortune.

That scenario may soon be one of the past as The United Auto Workers filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board, they are in search of an election to try and form a union for almost 3,000 dealers at Foxwoods Resort Casino.

A few unions for dealers do exist in California, but with tribal casinos accounting for an industry of $22 billion a year, the need for these unions is growing stronger with every day that passes.

Many dealers are excited about the opportunity, and some feel that it is long overdue.

Steve Peloso, a fifteen year veteran of dealing poker had this to say, "We have waited for this day for a long time. There have been way too many abuses by management, co-workers have gotten sick on the job and are then forced out, health benefits get worse every year. We're fed up and we're doing something about it."

The NLRB has the final say on this issue as a federal judge ruled earlier this year that Indian casinos are bound by the NLRB.

September 28, 2007
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!