Labor Complaint Against Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has issued a formal complaint against the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort. The complaint alleges an unfair labor practice that interferes with The Teamsters’ efforts to organize casino workers. The unfair labor practice charge against the casino charges that casino managers threatened casino workers that they would be subject to adverse consequences if they went to an organizing meeting, and that workers were told to stay away. The Soaring Eagle is the first Native-owned casino on a reservation that the Teamsters has attempted to organize.
A hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 17 in Mt. Pleasant. with no location for the hearing being set as yet. Teamsters Local 486 has been attempting to organize the casino workers. Federal investigators determined there was enough evidence to schedule a hearing before an administrative law judge and if that hearing does take place, the judge would issue a finding on whether the unfair labor practice actually took place.
The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, who are owners of the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort argued that the NLRB has no jurisdiction over the Tribe and its operations and claimed Tribal sovereignty. However, an NLRB official who asked not to be identified because he may be part of the process, said that the labor board would be willing to settle the case before the hearing and concluded that many such charges are settled in that manner. He also stated that the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe would not have to admit it engaged in unfair conduct, but would likely have to agree to other terms.
The Teamsters represent commercial casino workers in Las Vegas and Mississippi, and are part of the coalition of unions representing workers at the three Detroit casinos. Incidentally, the United Auto Workers are also attempting to organize workers at the Tribal-owned Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, Conn., owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.
