Highlight Reel
2023 year in review
1. Gaming jobs get even better
This spring, the Union negotiated renewal contracts for nearly 3,000 members at three upstate casinos: del Lago, Rivers, and Resorts World Catskills. The contracts put the casinos’ tax savings into the workers’ pockets: significantly increasing wages, further reducing monthly healthcare costs, and paying for our Union’s first ever childcare benefit among other benefits.
2. A historic GRIWA contract
In April, our Union’s leadership negotiated a ground-breaking successor GRIWA for members at over 90 hotels and casinos outside of New York City. The contract increases wages by an average of 40% over five years, protects healthcare and retirement benefits, introduces new benefits like paid family leave and pre-paid legal, and establishes two brand-new funds to support our members with childcare and housing.
3. Union strong, union proud
In September, nearly 1,000 HTC members took to the streets for New York and New Jersey’s annual Labor Day Parades. Together with family and friends, we celebrated our collective power — from Broad Street in Newark to 5th Avenue in Manhattan.
4. GOTV Success
This year, more than 1,000 members came out to knock on doors, pass out flyers, and call voters for pro-worker candidates. We made a huge impact: 21 HTC-backed candidates won their races this year in New York and New Jersey.
5. Political power: Jobs saved at del Lago
Our political escorts paid off hugely this summer, when State negotiators tried to pull off a secret deal for a new casino in Rochester, New York. The new casino would have destroyed business and led to major layoffs at nearby del Lago Resort and Casino. Because we’ve spent years working to elect pro-union officials to the State House, our Union’s leadership was able to kill the deal in a matter of hours. This Fall, the State and the Seneca Nation reached a new agreement that does not include a new casino.
6. Busy year at the bargaining table
Our Union negotiated 10 first-time contracts this year! Above, members at the Margaritaville learn about their new contractual rights.
7. Back to work!
Our Union continues to fight for members who lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. We secured three major re-openings of union properties this year: the historic Roosevelt Hotel, the Boathouse Restaurant in Central Park, and the Chelsea Hotel. Above, members at the Boathouse celebrate the reopening with NYC Mayor Eric Adams.
8. Expansion in the GRIWA region
We’ve continued to organize in the greater region, bringing on new members at the Hyatt Place Albany, Residence Inn Bridgewater - Branchburg, Renaissance Meadowlands, and Security Supervisors, Surveillance Operators, and Surveillance Technicians at del Lago Resort & Casino. Above, Security Supervisor Jason Drennen and Surveillance Operator Scott Orbaker from del Lago.
9. New City MD benefit
Our Benefits Funds launched a new benefit for members on the Industry Health Plan this year: free urgent care at CityMD clinics across New York and New Jersey! Members have taken advantage of the new benefit, with over 10,000 visits since May 1.
10. Our childhood program
This year, we’ve made huge strides towards helping our members afford childcare — from establishing a brand new childcare fund in the GRIWA contract to increasing New York’s income limits for childcare vouchers and helping members apply for over a quarter of a million dollars in subsidies.
11. Dozens of members apply for citizenship
Our Union offered a free legal clinic and covered a portion of the government application fees for more than 40 members who applied for U.S. citizenship this fall.
12. Union trainings are back on!
The “Protect Our Union’s Power” training increases members’ understanding of the labor movement, the threats facing our union, and our collective strategy to win. Over 200 members attended the first few PUP sessions this Fall.
