NITRO, W.Va. — Union workers at Mardi Gras Casino and Resort in Kanawha County are going to get a look at a new proposal on health insurance.
Members of United Steelworkers Local 14614-F8 voted last week to authorize a strike after rejecting the company’s latest offer. The two sides got back together Tuesday and came to an agreement.
Mardi Gras has agreed to remove language from the proposal that was upsetting to the union when it came to future health insurance negotiations.
“We just agreed to their language. We took it (previous language) out and said ‘no problem’ and agreed to their language and at this point they are going to take it back to their membership for a vote,” Mardi Gras Vice President Dan Adkins told MetroNews.
The new proposal also would increase what employees pay for health insurance premiums by a little less than $1 a day from the previous proposal, Adkins said.
“It’s a slight increase to our membership, but minor,” Adkins said.
Mardi Gras currently pays 90 percent of the premium costs. The new proposal takes it to a little less than 80 percent, Adkins said.
There’s been some give and take, Adkins said.
“It always is, but that’s what business is about and that’s what the union’s job to take care of their employees is about,” he said.
No word on when the union will take a vote on the new proposal.
“I think these employees, most of them, really appreciate their workplace and the atmosphere here. I’m really confident it’s going to be okay,” Adkins said.
There are 350 members of the USW at the Nitro-based casino. The group includes table games dealers, slot machine attendants, hotel workers, dog racing staff and other personnel, with the exception of security and concessions.