Summary:
- Appx. 100 Sky River Casino workers and supporters demanded union recognition during a protest.
- The union says most workers already support representation, but the casino insists on a formal election.
- The dispute is ongoing in court, more protests if nothing changes.
Tensions between workers and management at Sky River Casino spilled into public view on Tuesday evening, when around 100 employees and supporters gathered outside the California casino to demand union recognition.
The protest marked the most visible action yet in a long-running dispute between casino workers and Unite Here Local 49, the union trying to represent them. The group marched along the sidewalk near the entrance, holding signs and chanting while customers drove past.
For many workers, frustration has been building for years.
“We want them to hear us” said Francisco Maldonado, a lead cook at the casino. He said employees believe they are making progress toward union representation, but the pace has been slow.
Union leaders say the protest was meant to send a stronger message.
“We are doing something a little bit bigger” said Aamir Deen, president of Unite Here Local 49, “hoping that they reverse directions”. He added, “We’re going to continue to escalate”.
Workers Should Have a Say
At the center of the dispute is a disagreement over how the union should be recognized. Unite Here argues that a majority of workers already signed union authorization cards, which they say should be enough under an earlier agreement with the casino.
Casino leadership disagrees, with Cammeron Hodson, president of the Wilton Rancheria Gaming Authority, arguing workers should decide through a formal vote. He said they “have been waiting for an opportunity to decide for themselves” if they want union representation.
The conflict goes back to 2017, before the casino even opened. The Wilton Rancheria tribe, which owns the casino, signed an agreement outlining how union organizing would work. The casino eventually opened in 2022, but both sides now disagree on what the agreement requires.
The issue has reached the courts, with a federal appeals court hearing arguments in December. A decision is still pending.
Workers say the outcome matters not just for union rights, but for their daily lives. Maldonado said he earns just over $24 an hour and struggles to keep up with expenses, sometimes rotating which bills he pays.
Supporters joined the protest as well, while union leaders emphasized that the protest is only the beginning.
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