A casino workers strike in Indiana wrapped up this week with union members approving a fresh contract that ends nearly two weeks of picketing. The deal applies to around 140 workers at Caesars Southern Indiana.
Good to know
- The five-year contract includes $5 in annual wage increases and a $1,500 signing bonus.
- Workers can now carry raises when transferring between departments.
- The casino remained open with limited staff during the strike.
Employees represented by Teamsters Local 89 and Operating Engineers Local 399 voted to accept the agreement after working without a contract for over a month. Caesars Southern Indiana is operated by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and owned by VICI Properties.
Union leaders said the contract sets a better path for members going forward. The agreement includes several changes: continued healthcare coverage, access to a higher-tier plan, company participation in the Teamsters 401(k), and guaranteed raises every year for the next five years.
It also adds a new feature: employees who transfer between departments can now take their earned raises with them, rather than restarting at a lower wage.
Teamsters praised the support they received from customers during the strike and invited guests to return. “Now that the dust has settled and the strike has ended with a powerful new contract, we want to encourage all the Caesars Southern Indiana guests who have been honoring our picket line to return to the casino, have a great time, reconnect with our members who have always provided such amazing service, and remember to tip them well when you win!” the union said.
The strike ended over the weekend, with employees expected back at work on Monday. Despite the reduced staffing, the casino stayed open throughout the stoppage.
Labor disputes in the casino industry have become more frequent in recent years. In 2024, around 30,000 union members from the Las Vegas Culinary and Bartenders unions went on strike. The previous year, multiple Las Vegas properties narrowly avoided walkouts by finalizing contracts just in time. A 69-day strike at Virgin Hotels ended earlier in 2025, and Detroit casino workers spent more than a month on the picket line in late 2023 before finalizing a deal.
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