Mediation lawyers are needed to help the parties come to an agreement after workers for the MGM Grand Detroit Casino have rejected a proposed labor contract that would have lasted four years.  MGM employees have already begun to picket in order to communicate their grievances to residents and visitors in Detroit.  Shawn Ellis, speaking for Teamsters Local 372, indicated that no strike is planned now but that one remains a possibility. 

Strikes are particularly difficult for casino management to tolerate because workers must be approved and licensed by the state government.  This process takes several months at a minimum and in the meantime, tourists who come to Detroit to enjoy gambling will patronize other casinos rather than the MGM.  This situation leads many industry observers to conclude that the unions have a great advantage in dealing with casino employers.

Mediation Lawyers Essential for Contract Talks

The MGM Grand Detroit makes up almost 10% of the revenues generated by its parent company, MGM Resort International.  In addition, the heavy load of debt currently being carried by MGM means that the company likely cannot afford to give up revenues that might be lost should a strike occur.  It remains to be seen if contract mediation can yield a way out of the impasse.