ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - Employees at Sky River Casino are seeking to unionize, aiming for a contract that they say would bring their wages in line with industry standards.

Their effort has put them at odds with the Wilton Rancheria tribe, which opened the casino in 2022, that maintains it has followed fair labor practices under tribal law.

Wilton Rancheria tribal leaders spent several years securing state approval for a gaming compact during the casino’s development. The compact allowed the National Indian Gaming Commission to regulate the tribe’s gaming operations rather than the state, clearing the way for Sky River to open. Similar to other casinos in California, Sky River operates under tribal law rather than state or federal labor regulations.

Tribal leaders say that the casino continues to operate within those guidelines and is addressing employee concerns through what they describe as a fair process under tribal law.

“We are calling for a fair process, including a secret ballot election under our tribal law that allows team members to decide for themselves if they want to have a union, a law that Unite Here agreed to honor in 2017,” said Wilton Rancheria Gaming Authority President Cammeron Hodson in a written statement. He added that the tribe is urging the union to follow that process.

Unite Here Local 49, which represents workers in local gaming, hotel, food service and airport industries, acknowledged in a news release that they and casino owners entered that agreement in 2017 to recognize the union if a majority of employees signed authorization cards. The union said that threshold was reached in summer 2023 when workers presented what they described as “super majority support.” Union leaders say that the casino has not honored the agreement.

“I’m organizing the union because we deserve better than below average. Sky River, we demand you honor your agreement by recognizing our union and negotiating a fair contract,” said Trina Morey, a cook at the casino for two years, in the Unite Here news release. Morey said that their pay as a casino employee is $6.52 below average.

After more than two years of ongoing efforts to unionize, workers and organizers held a rally Nov. 18 at Wilton Rancheria’s offices, pushing for the casino to negotiate a fair contract with its employees. Union leaders said that the event marked the first major action in their campaign to unionize casino employees.

 

Unite Here Local 49 President Aamir Deen, far left, speaks during the union rally held Nov. 18. 

Unite Here Local 49 President Aamir Deen told the Elk Grove Citizen on Nov. 24 that organizing began when Sky River first opened, with most workers already signing union cards at that time. Deen said that community support has been strong but noted that tribal leaders have consistently cited sovereign nation laws in their response. Deen argued that other tribes operating casinos have cooperated with similar agreements.

“All of the other sovereign nations have abided by their agreements, and we hope that Sky River, Wilton Rancheria chooses to do that also,” Deen said. “If you compare the wages between the union casinos and Sky River, Sky River is consistently below average.”

In his written statement, Hodson emphasized the tribe’s commitment to a fair and respectful process.

“We deeply respect our team members and honor their choices. We have a legal and cultural commitment to supporting team members. We believe in a process that is fair and honors everyone’s voices, where people can make their own choice in a safe, respectful environment,” Hodson said.

Because Sky River workers are part of the broader tribal community, Hodson said, their voices should be acknowledged through procedures established under tribal law.

“If our team members choose to create a union by a secret ballot election, we will respect their decision. We invite and support that process. But that’s not what is happening here,” Hodson said in the written statement. “This entire process thus far has challenged our tribal sovereignty, and the continuing refusal to abide by the Tribal Labor Relations law is an attempt to suppress our rights as a Nation.”

Union leaders and casino employees say they intend to continue pressing for recognition as legal and labor discussions move forward.