One of the major reasons Casinos were able to take root in Ohio was an agreement made between legislators and gaming companies to allow for unions to organize on the proposed properties. When Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati opened its doors in March of 2013, the UAW, USW, Teamsters, and UNITE Here took action and began to organize the workers at 1000 Broadway. The UAW was tasked with organizing the Table Games dealers and Slot Techs; USW organized the Poker room; Teamsters organized the Cage Cashiers, Slot Attendants and Warehouse Workers; and UNITE Here organized Food and Beverage, and later they also brought in the Facilities department. Together as a Union Council they negotiated and ratified the first Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the casino in October of 2015. This first contract left a lot to be desired, but it remains the foundation of the representation Casino workers have to build on. It established our grievance procedures, recognition of the Unions, and solidified the member’s seniority and disciplinary tracks that have kept good working men and women employed with dignity.

The property at 1000 Broadway in CIncinnati, Ohio has changed ownership two times since that first contract and now is operated by Seminole Gaming as Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati. The UAW has sat at the head of the Casino’s Union Council ever since as lead negotiator, and in subsequent CBA’s has played a major role in establishing precedent setting wage increases, establishing strict limits on High Volume Business days, and gaining increased access to investigatory tools, including viewing of surveillance footage, for grievance purposes.