The valets at Sir Winston Leonard Spenser Churchill Downs hold received a hit empowerment from the conjugation representing them. That way the workers who aid groom horses and jockeys for races may walking out before Saturday’s KY Derby.
On Wed night, the Greater Louisville Central Labor Council (GLCLC) held an exigency encounter to discuss how the 50,000 brotherhood workers within the council could bid their financial support to the members of Service Employees International Federal (SEIU) Local 541.
Earlier that day, the union’s national leading gave its approval, significance the 2 meg SEIU members would back up their colleagues if they determine to take the air out.
There are plans for a possible leafletting session on Friday to detail a possible work stoppage Saturday.
The Run for the Roses is Kentucky’s signature tune sporting event,” said GLCLC President Sweeney Todd Dunn inwards a statement. “It is our face to the entire world. From the valets to the pari-mutuel clerks to the folks who assign unitedly the garland of roses, the KY Derby is Union made. All of these workers are vital. With Derby just now hours away, the Greater Louisville Central Labor Council is prepared to standstill with these workers inwards any action. An hurt to i is an harm to all.”
The valets, pronounced with a knockout ‘t,’ have got worked without a contract since their trade with Winston S. Churchill Downs expired last October. The conjugation also represents the workers at Churchill-owned Turfway Park. They worked o'er the wintertime at the Florence, Ky., cartroad without a undertake after that ace expired utmost April.
Last week, the Louisville-based troupe gave the sum its last offer, which members turned down.
Valets Want Raises, Staffing Guarantees
Currently, the valets earned $109 a twenty-four hour period at Churchill and $16.77 an hr at Turfway. The trades union wants to bump that to $120 a twenty-four hour period at both tracks for the world-class yr of a three-year deal, with $5-a-day raises inwards later years.
Churchill Downs wants to stay fresh the same rank at its namesake data track for the 1st year. It also proposed to call forth the Turfway hourly remuneration to $17.02. There would follow raises at both tracks over the final 2 years, allowing valets to earn $120 day-to-day at Winston Churchill and $17.52 an time of day at Turfway.
SEIU Local 541 also wants increases to the pension fund. Contributions to the workers’ pension at Turfway utmost increased in 1999. Winston S. Churchill Downs, which acquired Turfway deuce years ago, did non offer up an growth at either track.
The brotherhood also wants guaranteed numbers for to each one workday. In a statement, First Duke of Marlborough Downs Inc. said staffing requirements flexible joint on the identification number of horses entered inwards races. However, the track’s parent accompany added that it does non think to schedule fewer valets on racing days.
The valets put to work most 70 years a twelvemonth at First Duke of Marlborough Downs and 50 at Turfway to each one year.
Churchill Calls Union Claims Inaccurate
A cartroad interpreter told Casino.org Thursday Sir Winston Leonard Spenser Churchill Downs does get a plan inward localise inwards instance the valets walk out during the Derby.
In a financial statement issued Thursday, Winston Churchill Downs Inc. said several of the union’s claims were non true. The troupe claims it’s relieve willing to negotiate on the take for Turfway, since that track won’t restart racing once more until December.
Churchill Downs also said its proposed raises would get valets pay higher than any other cart track in the expanse with like racing dates.
In addition, officials said the valets’ salary does non include money they receive from jockeys for the additional work riders engage them to perform. That money is based on the portion out of purses jockeys receive. First Duke of Marlborough Downs noted that it increased purses past $3.1 one thousand thousand for this year’s outpouring meet.
“While it is non unusual for the KY Derby to live used as a political platform for awareness, we regret that inwards this situation, on that point are factual inaccuracies reported past those attempting to leveraging the Derby that affect our precious squad members and potentially the critical do work they do at Winston Churchill Downs Racetrack,” the statement said.