Union Seeks Permit For Foxwoods Protest

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.courant.com/news/custom/topnews/hc-ctpermit0514.artmay14,0,1018984.story

By JANICE PODSADA | Courant Staff Writer
May 14, 2008

The state Department of Transportation is balking at issuing the United Auto Workers union a permit allowing workers to gather this weekend along Route 2 in front of Foxwoods to protest the grand opening of the new MGM Grand.

The union, which won an election last fall to represent table game dealers at Foxwoods, applied for a special event permit that would close one lane of the highway for three-quarters of a mile during rallies and demonstrations planned for Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.

The transportation department sent an e-mail to the union Tuesday telling officials that "at this time we cannot issue you a highway use permit."

An outraged Bob Madore, the UAW's regional director, said Tuesday afternoon that the union plans to proceed with plans to demonstrate at each of the casino's entrances.

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, which owns the casino, has challenged the union election several times, saying federal labor law doesn't apply to a casino on tribal land. The union is also protesting a new policy that goes into effect Saturday that changes how tips are distributed, Madore said. He said the change would reduce the wages of 3,000 casino workers by $2 to $3 an hour.

Attorneys for the UAW said they plan to file a request for an injunction today against the transportation department's decision.

FULL story at link.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

1. UAW seeks injunction for weekend Foxwoods protest

Source: theday.com

Mashantucket - Concerned that the state Department of Transportation might deny its request, the United Auto Workers filed for an injunction Thursday in Hartford District Court in an effort to compel the DOT to allow the union to hold a rally this weekend at Foxwoods Resort Casino.

--snip--

The union has been protesting in support of table games dealers at the casino because the casino intends to allow the dealers at the MGM to keep their tips separate from the tip pool at the other facilities. Dealers believe that with the shifting of many high-stakes games to the new house, average wages at the existing casinos might drop. Some dealers speculate they could lose up to 20 percent, according to union officials.

On Tuesday the UAW accused the casino of“union busting” and announced plans for the weekend protest.

--snip--

In a press release issued Thursday evening, the union accused the DOT of making its own rules regarding its obligation to provide the necessary permits that would make a safe way for union members to exercise their right to free speech. The union contends that the DOT has offered varying reasons to deny its request. No one from the transportation department could reached for a comment Thursday night.

”We have not denied a permit to the UAW,” DOT spokesman Judd Everhart said Tuesday.“No final decision has been made,” he said at the time.

And it had not been made as late as Thursday, which led to the injunction.

”Union officials hope the case will be heard in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut in Hartford (today), before Judge Chatigny,” the release stated.

Full story at link: http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=bff5c14d-df68-49ec-a5c7-a2f89afcd0dc

[Earth Bound Misfit]

2. UAW Says It Has OK To Protest At Foxwoods

Source: Associated Press

May 17, 2008

MASHANTUCKET

— The United Auto Workers says it has brokered a deal with the state that will allow members to protest outside this weekend's grand opening of the MGM Grand at Foxwoods.

The state Department of Transportation had denied permit applications for protests that would have shut down part of Route 2 in the area of the hotel and casino.

The union says the agreement will allow it to protest along Route 2 on Saturday between noon and 11 p.m. and hold a rally Sunday between 9 a.m. and noon.

The union plans to protest a tipping policy that it says will cut dealers' earnings by 20 percent, by creating separate pools for employees at the Foxwoods Resort Casino and the MGM Grand.

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, which owns Foxwoods, issued a statement Tuesday saying it is prepared to enforce tribal law, but would not predict how it would handle protesters if they try to come onto tribal land


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