Unite Here Local 49, Union members picket Sky River Casino demanding negotiations
On April 8, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Wilton Rancheria must start negotiations with the union
Members of Unite Here Local 46 were joined by other Sacramento-area unions as they picketed Sky River Casino in Elk Grove. The workers at Sky River Casino, which the Wilton Racheria owns, were demanding that the Wilton Racheria honor a recent ruling by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals requiring that they begin negotiations with Unite Here to make them the collective bargaining unit for the casino employees.
The activities began with a demonstration in the cocktail lounge at the center of the casino, with about 40 people supporting United Here, chanting "Treat your workers like you should."
Before casino security could respond, the demonstrators voluntarily made their way to the west side entrance, with security behind them, pointing flashlights into people's phones to blur video recordings of the demonstration. Once outside, they remained in front of the west entrance, chanting various slogans.
The casino demonstrators then moved to the sidewalk in front of the casino, where they were joined by casino employees who are seeking to be represented by Unite Here Local 49. There were over 200 people in the picket line.
On April 8, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Wilton Rancheria must start negotiations with the union. Since that ruling, the Wilton Rancheria has ignored the court order.
The case stems from a 2017 memorandum of agreement between Wilton Rancheria and its management partner, Boyd Gaming, which outlined procedures for union recognition if a majority of workers signed authorization cards.
According to the court, the central dispute was whether the tribe was obligated to follow that agreement's process for union recognition or could instead rely exclusively on procedures outlined in its Tribal Labor Relations Ordinance. The arbitrator determined the agreement's process remained valid, and the Ninth Circuit found no basis to overturn that conclusion.
Joining the workers were members of other Sacramento unions, including SEIU Local 1000, Sheet Metal Workers, IBEW, UFCW, and the Los Rios College Federation of Teachers. The picket line ran for about two hours.
Also speaking to the demonstrators were 3rd Congressional District Democratic candidate Chris Bennett and Sean Frame, Democratic candidate for State Senate District 6. Frame is also the Chief Job Steward at CSEA 480.
No negotiations have been scheduled as of today.
More pictures below.
