Labor seeks inroads at Saginaw Chippewa casino

Tuesday, June 26, 2007  

The Teamsters union has set up an office in an attempt to organize casino employees of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan.

The union has filed unfair labor practice charges against the tribe with the National Labor Relations Board. But the tribe says sovereignty protects it from labor laws.

The case has yet to be decided. But the NLRB in May 2004 overturned 30 years of precedent and said tribes must comply with federal labor law if their businesses impact or employ non-Indians.

Each situation will be treated on a tribe-by-tribe basis, the NLRB ruled. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the ruling. An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is possible.

Get the Story:
Teamsters local sets up near casino (The Saginaw News 6/26)