Workers at Rivers Casino Portsmouth have made state history by becoming the first casino employees in Virginia to ratify a union contract. This development marks a significant victory for organized labor in the state’s gambling sector. The employees, represented by Teamsters Local 822, approved the deal with 95% of the votes, securing significant gains in wages, benefits, and job security.

Workers Spent Months Organizing

The contract delivers an average 15.95% salary increase during its duration, in addition to employer-paid health coverage, expanded paid leave, and protection from at-will termination. For many workers, the agreement marks not only a financial win but also a hard-fought recognition of their collective power.

Rivers Casino employees note that the new agreement brings much-anticipated security. In addition to the substantial benefits, workers now have a way to make their voices heard, ensuring fair representation. James Wright, Teamsters Local 822 president, added that this successful unionization would set a standard for fairness across the state’s gaming industry.

For the first time, Virginia gaming workers have a legally binding union contract that delivers guaranteed raises, strong benefits, and just cause protections.

Teamsters Local 822, which represents over 3,000 employees in the Tidewater area, noted that the victory was the result of months of coordinated organizing. In just a few months, employees have secured what many are calling a model agreement for future negotiations across the state. The union hoped that more casino workers would follow Rivers Casino’s example and band together.

Casino Sector Unionization Marches On

The Portsmouth agreement aligns with a broader trend of labor organizing in the US casino sector. Spurred by challenging economic conditions, workers are increasingly turning to unions to demand fair pay and predictable scheduling in a business known for its unpredictable hours and tip-based pay.

Just last month, cage cashiers at Encore Boston Harbor in Massachusetts voted overwhelmingly to join Teamsters Local 25. Meanwhile, more than 200 employees at Horseshoe Indianapolis went on strike after management refused to recognize their union amid complications caused by the ongoing federal government shutdown. With the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) paralyzed, unionization efforts nationwide have suffered.

The victory in Portsmouth could extend beyond Virginia. Industry experts note that this decisive move demonstrates how unionization can take hold even in states without a strong tradition of organized labor in the gaming sector. Virginia only legalized casino gambling in 2020, and Rivers Portsmouth, which opened its doors in January 2023, was the state’s first permanent casino.