Rhode Island Casino Workers Authorize Strike at Bally’s Lincoln

Members of the Rhode Island casino union Unite Here Local 26 are threatening to walk off the job at Bally s Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort as early as tomorrow, July 1.

Bally s Rhode Island casino workers rally outside the State House for workers right to return laws earlier this month. The casino workers are now threatening a strike at Bally s Lincoln unless the casino immediately agrees to increase staffing levels and raise wages. (Image: The Valley Breeze)

Union officials held a strike authorization vote on Tuesday. Some 92% of the votes cast were in favor of a picket being called if Bally s doesn t agree to better working conditions.

Lincoln casino workers say they re being overworked because of the property being understaffed. They want Bally s to hire more workers and increase pay to cover higher costs of living due to record inflation.

Results are in for Bally s Twin River Casino: more than 92% of workers voted YES to authorize a strike if an agreement isn t reached before July 1st.

UNITE HERE Local 26 (@UNITEHERE26)

Unite Here is a national trade group. In Rhode Island, the Local 26 chapter represents but not Bally s Tiverton. The union supports workers employed in the hospitality industry and at the state s international airport.

The Bally s Lincoln casino floor spans 162,000 square feet, with 4,100 slot machines, 125 table games, and a sportsbook. The resort is accompanied by a 136-room hotel with a spa, four restaurants, three distinct food courts featuring 16 dining options, nine bars, and three entertainment venues.

Union Demands

Unite Here Local 26 officials say Bally s should be on alert for a picket of its flagship Lincoln casino resort if it s not willing to increase wages and staffing levels. The union s collective bargaining agreement with the Lincoln property expires at 12:01 am EDT on July 1.

The union says it has two primary demands: increased staffing and wage increases that match the rising costs of living.

Union officials claim Bally s has not welcomed back all of the workers that the Lincoln casino laid off amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, union brass contends that the casino s workforce is just 40% of its pre-pandemic total.

Despite fewer workers, union members say the casino has been bustling in recent months.

Bally s has come back at pretty much full strength, said Valerie Costa, a bartender and cocktail server at the Lincoln property. The casino is open and very busy, and they re making a lot of money.

It s time to show that appreciation to workers by giving us the raises we deserve, Costa added.

Unite Here leaders also argue that Bally s has reduced full-time employment in the pandemic aftermath. Instead, they have created more part-time positions that allow the casino operator to cut costs on benefits overhead.

Bally s Offers Denied

Bally s has not commented publicly on its ongoing contract negotiations with Unite Here Local 26. But union reps say the casino company s initial two offers of increasing hourly pay by 50 cents and then $1 were swiftly rejected.

Though a strike would likely impact operations at Bally s Twin River Lincoln, it certainly wouldn t require the property to temporarily shutter. Unite Here is a powerful union, but it represents only around 200 of the casino s 1,900-strong workforce.

The union squabble comes the same week as Bally s agreed to to Gaming and Leisure Properties for $1 billion. Bally s will continue to operate the two casinos through a leaseback agreement with the real estate investment trust controlled by Penn National Gaming.