Ohio casinos avoid a strike as unions reach a new agreement.

Finding a reasonable compromise

Two unions and Penn Entertainment, the proprietor of two Hollywood casinos in Ohio, have tentatively agreed on new employee contracts. Just in time to stop the strike scheduled for midnight, an agreement was reached on Thursday evening.

preliminary agreement for four years

The two casinos involved are Hollywood Casino Columbus and Hollywood Casino Toledo. There was a possible four-year arrangement. Since there have been commercial casinos in Ohio, the pay of casino employees have increased to their highest level.

tense negotiations

Eric Sweeney, a staff representative for International Steelworkers Local 1-346, described the conditions of the agreement as a "very historical bargain" for casino employees.

The Steelworkers union represents around half of the 900 unionized workers that work at the casinos. The remaining unionized workers are represented by the United Auto Workers union, and both organizations are bound by the same contract.

If a deal wasn't reached, casino employees had intended to go on strike at the end of Thursday. By mid-afternoon that day, Penn Entertainment still hadn't made an offer. Penn finally consented to some wage terms that the unions were recommending at around 6 o'clock.

One of the largest casino operators in the US, Penn Entertainment manages around 40 facilities across the nation. Ohio is home to four casinos, among others.

evaluating the new agreement

The prior base wage, without tips, for the employees was $6.36 per hour. To lessen their reliance on the goodwill of customers, they requested a raise to at least $7.25 per hour. They also desired health insurance that was more reasonably priced. The casino's unionized employees make around $20 an hour when tips are added in.

The revised agreement will be made known to the workforce the following week. A ratification vote will probably happen the first week of January as a result. If the new contract is approved by the employees, it will take effect as of December 1, 2021, which was the previous deal's expiration date.