Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino employees seek to form union

Employees of the resort casino attempted to form a Union nearly 20 years ago, but were unsuccessful in their first attempt.

Workers at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino have made another attempt to unionize, according to a Niagara Gazette local news report.

Casino employees tried to form a union nearly two decades ago and were not successful, the local report said.

This time, employees are working with Teamsters Local 449, a union that represents local industries in both Eric and Niagara counties. The group represents construction workers and bus drivers as well.

According to former casino employee and organizer Vernon Lohan, the unionization effort kicked off towards the middle of December 2024. Vernon worked for the casino in the food and beverage department throughout his tenure.

Lohan told local news that local workers seek “proper pay raises and job protection measures.”

“You’re not given a fair handshake over there,” Lohan said.

Good to know: The Seneca Nation and the state of New York agreed to an extension of its gaming compact, which was set to expire on December 9

The Seneca Nation’s compact with New York State does not contain any language regarding whether casino employees are allowed to unionize.

However, the compact allows the nation to run Class III gaming facilities in the western part of the state. Under the terms of the agreement, the Seneca Nation pays 25% of its revenue from slots and other gaming devices to the state.

Currently, both parties are operating under a temporary compact that they signed more than a year ago. The agreement is renewed every three months, according to the local report.

Both groups are currently working to establish a new compact.

Laura Mack

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