Rivers Casino workers rally for a fair process to organize a union; call for Rush Street Gaming’s “New York Deal”

Despite pledging to abide by a fair organizing process in New York, Neil Bluhm’s casino management company refuses to stop intimidation and harassment tactics in Des Plaines

DES PLAINES, IL– Over one hundred casino and hotel workers lined the road leading into Rivers Casino today to protest managers’ continued anti-union practices and call for a fair process to organize a union at the casino.

Although the company recently pledged to abide by a fair process for a planned casino in upstate New York, Rush Street Gaming, majority owned by Chicago billionaire Neil Bluhm, has refused to agree to the same process to respect workers’ rights to organize their union in Des Plaines.

“Rivers Casino needs to stop attacking us so we can get a fair process for Chicago,” said Linnea Dominiek, a server in the VIP lounge at Rivers for the past three years.  “Why is Rivers refusing the same fair deal my coworkers in upstate New York will get?”

The rally capped three weeks of demonstrations at each of Neil Bluhm’s US casinos (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and now Chicago/Des Plaines).  Casino workers from each of the Pennsylvania casinos traveled to Des Plaines to stand with their coworkers.

The Rivers Casino conflict escalated early last year outside Chicago when dozens of unfair labor practice charges, including intimidation and harassment of workers, were found to have merit by the General Counsel to the National Labor Relations Board.

UNITE HERE Local 1 has been supporting workers organizing at Rivers in Des Plaines.

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