Indiana Casino Workers Demand Better Health Protections

Caesars Southern Indiana employees are demanding an improved health policy.

On June 15, the casino reopened its doors, implementing a host of state-mandated safety measures to help curb the spread of COVID-19.

Nonetheless, many of the casino’s employees believe that these precautions are not sufficient.

Last week, a petition requesting new safety measures was signed by over 300 employees and delivered to management.

Caesar’s mask policy leads to conflict

The Indiana Gaming Commission’s reopening regulations for casinos state that gamblers are only required to wear masks when participating in table games.

Caesars has escalated its measures by declaring a new mask policy that applies to the entire company. This mandates every gambler in a Caesars casino to wear a mask.

However, even with that additional policy, there still exists a loophole for gamblers.

If you are drinking or smoking inside Caesars Southern Indiana, you are not required to wear a mask. However, some customers who dislike this policy keep a drink or a cigarette close at hand to avoid wearing a mask.

The casino’s employees are concerned about that loophole.

Jackie Gibson, a casino housekeeper, believes that the issue largely stems from the close interaction between workers and gamblers.

“When they smoke at the machines, they remove their masks. This makes us feel unsafe, especially since we have to be in close contact with them. The situation is serious as it is a deadly matter, not something to be taken lightly.”

The employees assert that the loophole engenders a hazardous work environment.

A large portion of many workers’ income also depends on tips.

Gamblers who repeatedly exploit the system often become frustrated when asked to wear their masks. This frustration can result in these gamblers giving fewer tips to the workers. Employees are seeking to avoid this cycle completely.

Protests are assembled by casino workers.

Casino workers at Caesars Southern Indiana have recently taken a stand for their health, but this is not the first time such a petition has been made.

Casino workers, who hail from the following casinos, congregated in downtown Indianapolis for a drive-by protest on May 15.

• East Chicago Ameristar
• Blue Chip Casino
• Caesars Southern Indiana
• Indiana Grand Casino

The workers belonged to the UNITE HERE Local 23 union, which at that time was contending that Indiana was irresponsibly reopening casinos for the sake of tax revenue.

Terri Mitchell, who works as a bartender at Indiana Grand, fears she may be forced to decide between staying in a potentially hazardous work setting or resigning and consequently losing her insurance.

As someone with COPD, diabetes, and fibromyalgia, my immune system is already compromised. Securing necessary healthcare is a constant battle due to my health insurance’s substantial $2,800 deductible. The thought of contracting this virus terrifies me, as it may mean not being able to witness my grandchildren’s growth.

The state declared that casinos would resume operations on June 15, shortly following the protests in Indy.

The union views Caesars’ mask mandate as a victory, but continues to strive for additional alterations. Some members of the group are among those who signed the petition at Caesars Southern Indiana.

Growing concerns over potential additional casino closures

Despite some casino workers being unhappy, they still must continue to work.

The employees are concerned that an increase in COVID-19 cases nationwide may lead to another series of shutdowns.

When Indiana initially imposed shutdown in March, thousands of casino workers were put on furlough.

In due course, the workers lost their health benefits. Consequently, Boyd Gaming was forced to indefinitely dismiss a significant portion of the workforce at Blue Chip Casino and Belterra.

Casino employees across the state could find themselves in a difficult situation if another round of shutdowns is looming.

As Indiana lacks online casinos, the only source of income for the industry when casinos are closed is sports betting.

The substantial expense of maintaining closed casinos could result in further permanent job cuts if things close down once more.

Those shutdowns could potentially be avoided with the implementation of new safety measures.

The Indiana Gaming Commission will probably keep things operational provided that the state’s casinos don’t have a large number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Meanwhile, employees at Caesars Southern Indiana and other state-wide casinos will persist in advocating for further changes.