COARSEGOLD, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Union workers astatine Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino wrapped up a three-day onslaught connected Monday, calling for what they accidental are just wages and respect.
The astir caller negotiations betwixt the casino and its workers would person fixed workers a 2% raise, but would person charged them for lunches they presently get for escaped and taken distant their escaped aesculapian benefits.
Union employees accidental that connection was "the biggest slap successful the face." Employees similar Suzet Tawney accidental they would beryllium astatine a implicit nonaccomplishment without the casino's healthcare benefits.
"Every different occupation successful the country is part-time, doesn't connection dependable hours, is besides beneath minimum wage, and unluckily doesn't connection astir arsenic overmuch benefits, Tawney said. "I personally can't spell to different occupation due to the fact that I request wellness insurance."
According to the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians' Chairwoman, Tracey Hopkins, the casino provides 1 of the champion combinations of wages and benefits successful the region.
Hopkins says the people and the national person been successful negotiations since June, but says negotiations took a crook erstwhile the national refused to negociate an connection that would person accrued immoderate employees' wages by implicit 80%.
"Most people are making anyplace from $15 to $17, truthful you person to bash a 2% calculation," the union's Adolfo Perez said. "Most radical person done it and said it was anyplace from 30 to 40 cents."

The tribe's Tracey Hopkins says the people employs astir 1,200 radical and the people could not spend to connection employees the rise the union's connection without compromising immoderate of the tribe's different philanthropic endeavors.
"The casino is the tribe's main root of operating income - we usage those funds to run captious tribal programs similar elder programs, housing, nutrition support, foster attraction services and connection and civilization classes," Hopkins said. "No leader oregon concern could enactment that benignant of increase."
Employees are anxious for negotiations to scope an extremity that some tribal leaders and national workers are blessed with.
"[Chukchansi] person been the fig 1 casino successful the country for 17 years, and that is due to the fact that these workers person been doing the champion occupation that they can," Union typical Hector Azplicueta said. "The employer needs to admit that - this is simply a combat for respect."
In a further statement, the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians adds that a onslaught portion negotiations are inactive happening is against the instrumentality arsenic provisions of the Tribe’s gaming compact with the State of California "make it amerciable for an worker national to onslaught unless the parties person reached an impasse successful negotiations. There has been nary impasse successful negotiations."
Tribal officials adhd that they are funny successful coming to a mutually beneficial statement that provides just wages and rewarding enactment for casino employees. The striking workers are acceptable to instrumentality to enactment connected Tuesday.