Union seeks federal election at Mashantucket Pequot casino

Friday, June 11, 2010  

A labor union that failed to organize at the casino owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation of Connecticut is seeking federal intervention.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union tried to organize last year under tribal law but the effort failed. The union is now asking the National Labor Relations Board to step in.

The tribe enacted the Mashantucket Pequot Labor Relations Law . A union that wants to organize must secure approval from a majority of all eligible employees.

The National Labor Relations Act, on the other hand, only requires the approval of a majority of the employees who vote in a particular election. "We were the first union to have an election under tribal law and at the last minute we found out that under tribal law you have to have everyone vote. Those who didn't vote got counted as 'no' votes," Local 371 president Brian Petronella told The New London Day.

Get the Story:
Tribe irked by bid to organize union under federal law (The New London Day 6/11)
Mashantuckets: Union petition attacks our sovereignty (The Norwich Bulletin 6/11)
Foxwoods Bartenders Seek Labor Union Under U.S. Supervision (The Hartford Courant 6/11)