Contract Health Services (CHS) are provided for enrolled Snoqualmie Indian Tribe members who live within the Tribe's five county service delivery areas: King, Snohomish, Pierce, Mason, and Island counties. Scientific Games' slot, table and casino management systems will manage Snoqualmie Casino's 51,000-square-foot gaming floor, boasting 1,770 slots and 55 tables, replacing the current competitive.
Friday, around 500 Atlantic City casino workers got in their cars and drove around the Borgata and Harrah's as part of a car caravan.
Demanding that MGM and Caesars continue to provide them with health insurance, as casinos have yet to open due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The service employees are represented by Unite Here Local 54, and many work for Borgata which is owned by MGM Resorts International, and Harrahs owned by Caesars Entertainment Corporation, demanding they continue to provide them with health insurance, as casinos have no definite opening date.
Snoqualmie Casino Health Insurance Company
'These two companies are the leaders in this industry, and they need to stand up and lead,' said Donna DeCaprio, the financial secretary-treasurer of Unite Here local 54.
Front-line casino employees have been out of work for about three months. These employees include housekeepers, bartenders, cocktail servers, cooks, bellmen, doormen and other service workers in the casinos.
'We feel like nobody feels our need, nobody cares about us,' said Mario Guzman, a food server at Borgata.
According to the union that represents these workers, Unite Here Local 54, 10,000 union casino workers were laid off as a result of COVID-19 with minimal closure pay.
Their union health fund extended its health insurance through the end of June. As July approaches, these union workers don't know if they will continue to have health insurance from July through December.
'There's urgency to this matter, and that's why we are standing up now, and making our voices heard, because July will be too late,' said DeCaprio.
Some casinos are aiming to re-open around July 4, however, Unite Here said more than 26,000 workers will remain unemployed because there won't be as many customers.
Paying their health insurance is not an option for many. 'Our average rate of pay is about $12.50 per hour,' said DeCaprio.
Many of the service workers rely heavily on tips and say they want to go back to work and safely interact with customers.
'We need to feel safe because we deal with customers, we are the front line employees,' said Mineli Polanco, a waitress on the floor of Borgata.
Part of the car caravan included the children of the front line casino workers, upset their family's health insurance is in jeopardy.
'It breaks my heart to see my kids, just think about it, I got a two-year-old, if he gets sick what am I going to do without health benefits, without a job,' said Guzman.
MGM Resorts International released a statement to Action News which said, 'We are working with the leaders of UNITE HERE to reach an agreement regarding health coverage.'
Action News has reached out to Harrah's and has yet to hear back.
'Snoqualmie Casino is set to open its doors in less than two months to plenty of fan fare. While excitement looms over the opening, a bit of anxiety from residents and city officials of both Snoqualmie and North Bend also exists. Concerns over what kind of clientele the casino will bring has some wondering whether its addition will actually be a good thing for the community. We think it will. For starters, Snoqualmie Casino will employ more than 1,300 people, most of them full-time. Many of these jobs pay decently and include full health-insurance benefits. The casino also appears to be well on its way to supporting lots of community events as a good corporate neighbor. It sponsored both Snoqualmie Railroad Days and the Festival at Mount Si last month, and will be a key sponsor at Issaquah Salmon Days next month. Sponsorship funds are what make events free or affordable for all. Some are concerned about the increase in traffic that will result from the casino. Since exit 27 off I-90, where the casino is located, doesn’t have an exit for west-bound traffic, those on their way to the casino will need to get off in North Bend and travel down Southeast North Bend Way. While this may increase traffic some, the good majority of those traveling to the casino will likely come from the west. Those forced to travel through North Bend will get a look at businesses downtown they might not have seen otherwise. Hopefully they’ll stop and shop.' Get the Story:
Editorial: Snoqualmie Casino will benefit the community (The SnoValley Star 9/11) Another Story: