In Rockford, Illinois, a significant push by a coalition of labor unions at Hard Rock Casino Rockford has called for the management to acknowledge and negotiate with unionized employees rather than spend resources on anti-union activities. This demand was voiced during a rally dubbed “Rally for Respect” held outside the casino’s premises.
Labor unions advocate for recognition:
Sara Dorner, the president of Rockford United Labor, emphasized the importance of union representation for casino workers, stating that it would provide them with a significant voice in sharing the casino’s success. Notably, valet drivers and warehouse staff at the casino have recently opted to join the Teamsters union. As the Rockford Register Star reports, Dorner noted: “The workers are steadily organizing. We’re expecting votes to come through over the next couple months, but we would really like to save time and energy with the casino. We don’t want them to have to put all their time and money and energy into busting this up when it’s going to happen.”
Despite the ongoing organization efforts, the casino has engaged anti-union legal advisors in an attempt to dissuade employees from unionizing. However, Dorner argued that such resistance is futile as the formation of unions among the remaining employees is inevitable.
The rallying unions, comprising six labor groups including the United Auto Workers, Service Employees International Union, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, International Union of Operating Engineers, and UNITE HERE, collectively support the casino workers under the umbrella of Rockford Casino Workers United.
On the other hand, Geno Iafrate, President of Hard Rock Casino Rockford, defended the establishment’s stance by highlighting the industry-leading compensation, benefits, and opportunities for advancement that the casino provides. Iafrate pointed out that a substantial portion of the casino’s workforce is already represented by union labor and cited ongoing negotiations with several unions, including Unite HERE Local 450, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 399, and Teamsters Local 325.
“We respect their right to unionize, evident in the project labor agreement we had in place during construction and our ongoing negotiations. We believe in building strong partnerships, both with our team and the broader community, and we look forward to watching our band grow as the casino grows,” Iafrate stated, as reported by WIFR.
Community perspectives and further actions:
Adding to the conversation, Matt Frantzen, President of United Auto Workers Local 1268, mentioned that local union leaders are advising and supporting the casino workers through their unionization process. “If we have a good time, it’s because the people that are working there, the workers are not asking for a ton of money, just a respectable wage,” said Frantzen.
Further insights came from Charles Whitmore, a concert setup worker at the casino, who highlighted the disparity in wages compared to other local venues like BMO and Coronado. “It’s not minimum wage here, but it’s less than what we are making at the BMO and Coronado, so we need to make that more equitable. It also helps get other workers in too,” Whitmore asserted.
In response to the union’s rally and demands, Iafrate reiterated the casino’s respect for the workers’ right to unionize and emphasized the company’s commitment to fostering strong community and team relationships. “Our aim is to grow together with our team as the casino expands,” he concluded.
As union activities gain traction, the evolving labor dynamics at Hard Rock Casino Rockford could set a precedent for labor relations in the industry, underscoring the importance of mutual respect and collaboration between management and workers.
