Ocean Downs Casino workers and management have failed to reach an agreement on fair pay, leading to talks of a strike just as the busy summer season is getting started. Employees represented by Unite Here Local 7 say they have reached a breaking point after months of negotiations with Churchill Downs Incorporated, the parent company of the casino.
A Summer Strike Could Be Devastating
According to a recent report by local news outlet WBOC, after nearly seven months at the bargaining table, workers rejected Ocean Downs’ reported final offer. Union leaders say the vote reflects growing frustration about wages that many workers say no longer cover basic living costs. Many non-tipped workers make about $15 per hour, and many make less than $33,000 a year, the union said.
Even with the proposed increase to $15.90 per hour, workers say the gap between earnings and expenses is still too wide. Public pressure is starting to build. Over the weekend, workers and their supporters gathered outside the casino, chanting and carrying signs, calling for a fair contract. Union leaders are signaling more actions could follow if talks aren’t resumed.
After seven months of bargaining, the company made a last and final offer, and workers were really, really disappointed.
Tracy Lingo, Unite Here Local 7 president
The dispute comes at a critical time for Ocean Downs, which relies on the visitor surge typical for the summer months. A strike could disrupt operations and undermine one of the casino’s most lucrative periods. Union officials have not set a date for a walkout but say the option is still on the table.
Salaries Have Not Kept Up with Rising Costs
This conflict centers on long-standing debates around the region’s gambling sector. Union representatives say casinos promised stable, family-supporting jobs in Maryland and regular contributions to public programs like education. However, many workers in the sector have been let down, struggling to make ends meet amid the growing cost-of-living crisis.
Citing research on regional living costs, the union says that a real living wage in nearby communities significantly exceeds what many Ocean Downs employees are earning. This gap, they argue, has forced many workers to juggle multiple jobs as they struggle to keep up with rising expenses.
Ocean Downs management has remained mostly quiet, offering no comments on the state of negotiations. However, many workers feel frustrated by this ongoing silence as they wait for the company to return to the bargaining table with a revised proposal. The union has repeatedly called for fresh discussions while preparing its members for the possibility of another escalation.
