Blue Chip Casino Workers Join Teamsters Local 135

Twenty-two slot attendants and dual rates at Blue Chip Casino Hotel and Spa in Michigan City, Indiana, voted to join Teamsters Local 135 on August 3, 2026. This action marks the first organizing success at Boyd Gaming, a major U.S. casino entertainment firm.

What Happened

A group of 22 slot attendants and dual rates employed at the Blue Chip Casino Hotel and Spa in Michigan City, Indiana, voted to join Teamsters Local 135, according to a press release from PRNewswire published on August 3, 2026. This vote constitutes the inaugural organizing victory at Boyd Gaming, described as one of the largest casino entertainment companies in the United States.

The slot attendants, who are responsible for maintaining over 1,600 slot machines and providing guest services, reportedly sought representation from the Teamsters to achieve higher pay, improved benefits, and better working conditions. On June 23, the casino workers demanded Teamsters representation, as stated in the PRNewswire release.

Key Details

• The organizing effort involved 22 slot attendants and dual rates at Blue Chip Casino Hotel and Spa, according to PRNewswire.
• This unionization marks the first organizing win at Boyd Gaming, a significant casino entertainment company in the U.S., PRNewswire reported.
• Workers joined Teamsters Local 135 to secure higher pay, improved benefits, and enhanced working conditions, according to the PRNewswire release.
• A slot attendant and new Local 135 member, Candace Todd, stated that the company engaged a union buster and conducted meetings in an attempt to intimidate workers, as reported by PRNewswire.
• The International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents approximately 6,000 members in casinos and casino hotels nationwide, according to PRNewswire.

Why It Matters

This organizing win at Blue Chip Casino represents a notable development in labor relations within the regulated casino industry, specifically impacting Boyd Gaming. Tommy Blitsch, Director of the Teamsters Convention, Trade Show, and Casino Division, stated that Teamsters continue to establish their presence in the casino industry and indicated that this group’s success sends a message to other casinos nationally, according to PRNewswire.

The successful unionization highlights workers’ demands for improved compensation, benefits, and working conditions within the gaming sector. The reported company actions, including the hiring of a union buster and conducting meetings, illustrate potential challenges faced by organizing efforts, which were reportedly overcome by worker solidarity, as stated by Candace Todd, a slot attendant, and new member of Local 135 in the PRNewswire release.

What’s Next

Dustin Roach, President of Local 135, stated that the company is now expected to meet at the bargaining table without delay. Local 135 intends to negotiate a fair first contract and hold the company accountable, as reported by PRNewswire.

Originally reported by PRNewswire·Published 3 Aug 2026, 20:15