Labor putting pressure on tribes - A path to unionize is a bargaining chip in talks on new revenue.

Sacramento Bee ^ | 6/20/7 | Peter Hecht

[SmithL]

Hundreds of red-clad protesters Tuesday decried a lack of worker protections in pending agreements to allow major casino expansions for some of California's richest Indian gambling tribes.

The spirited Capitol demonstration came as state lawmakers were laboring behind the scenes on a political compromise that may facilitate legislative approval of gambling agreements to allow five Southern California tribes to add up to 22,500 new slot machines.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is pushing hard for approval of the accords, arguing that the state stands to receive $13.4 billion to $22.4 billion in casino revenue-sharing payments over the next 10 years.

But members of UNITE-HERE, a labor group targeting the state's burgeoning casino industry in a push to expand union organizing, is harshly criticizing the compacts as lacking sufficient language to protect casino employees from workplace intimidation or harassment.

As demonstrators waived a banner, "Billions for tribes. Nothing for workers," UNITE-HERE political director Jack Gribbon charged that "a gambling cartel in Southern California" is exploiting employees by refusing to allow workers to organize by collecting signatures on union cards.

The labor provisions, which allow unions to organize workers without holding secret ballot elections, were included in 2004 gambling agreements that Schwarzenegger signed with five tribes.

The tribes that accepted the labor organizing rules -- called "card-check neutrality" -- include the United Auburn and Rumsey Indian bands, operators of the Thunder Valley and Cache Creek casinos near Sacramento.

Schwarzenegger didn't include similar language in pending agreements signed with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and the Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Nation.

The Southern California tribes strongly opposed the 2004 labor provisions, describing the card-check neutrality requirement as an intrusion on tribal sovereignty.

[SmithL]

- A demonstrator, foreground, leads a chant as union supporters in red shirts rally Tuesday at the Capitol. An accord with tribes would pay the state billions of dollars if the Legislature approves new slot machines, and unions want "card-check" organizing as part of the deal as they say elections lead to harassment.

[Sundog]

Poverty ridden idiots want to give the government billions of dollars...

[Tulane]

Good for the tribes. I hope they prevail and don’t have to suffer under the union yoke.

[Jaysun]

The last thing the drunken Indians need is “union representation”, that would be the last nail in their coffin.

[SierraWasp]

Do you have time to post this too?

[SmithL]

You betcha: Dan Walters: Borrowing cannot fill vast need

[SierraWasp]

Thanks again, SmithL!

[Mike Darancette]

As demonstrators waived a banner, "Billions for tribes. Nothing for workers," UNITE-HERE political director Jack Gribbon charged that "a gambling cartel in Southern California" is exploiting employees by refusing to allow workers to organize by collecting signatures on union cards.

The workers at the Indian casinos have it way better than other workers with the same type of jobs elsewhere.