Detroit “Strike City” Continues as Nearly 5000 Union Members Remain on the Picket Lines

Detroit Blue Cross-Blue Shield workers still on strike, Nov. 3, 2023. | Photo: Abayomi Azikiwe, Pan-African News Wire

Detroit Blue Cross-Blue Shield UAW 2500 walking the picket line, Nov. 3, 2023. | Photo: Abayomi Azikiwe, Pan-African News Wire

Detroit Casino strike picket signs. | Photo: Abayomi Azikiwe, Pan-African News Wire

Detroit casino unions on strike. | Photo: Abayomi Azikiwe, Pan-African News Wire

Detroit casino unions on the picket lines. | Photo: Abayomi Azikiwe, Pan-African News Wire

By Fighting Words Staff

Although the automotive companies, GM, Ford and Stallantis, have signed tentative agreements with the UAW International, thousands of workers still remain on strike at Blue Cross-Blue Shield and the three Detroit casinos.

These photographs were taken on Friday, November 3, 2023 in the Hollywood Greektown area of downtown Detroit  where workers are continuing their strikes demanding higher wages and better conditions of employment.

A leaflet being circulated by the five unions striking against the casinos says:

“Do not play, eat, drink, meet or sleep at this casino. We are not parking the cars, dealing the cards, serving the drinks, cooking the food, cleaning the rooms, operating the boilers or fridges to keep customers warm and food cold, or taking out the trash. We are on strike for fair wages and to defend our health insurance and job security. We sacrificed to help the casinos get back on their feet during the pandemic. Now gaming revenues from in-person and online play are at an all-time high for the casino industry in our city. Detroit casino workers deserve a raise. One job should be enough to support our families. Stand with us. Do not cross our picket line.”

Blue Cross-Blue Shield workers are represented by UAW Local 2500. The workers at the three casinos are represented by five unions: Unite Here!, UAW 7777, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, International Union of Operating Engineers and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights.

In addition, a strike at nursing homes in Southeastern Michigan began during mid-October.

Close to 250 workers struck at Fountain Bleu in Livonia, Four Seasons in Westland and Greenfield in Royal Oak represented by SEIU Healthcare Michigan. These employees are demanding better staffing levels, wages and benefits.

During the summer, in June, the same union concluded an eight-day strike at a Redford nursing home with a tentative contract, and earlier in 2023 they threatened to strike two other nursing home groups during a renegotiating contract process.