Members of the United Steelworkers union voted Friday to authorize a strike against Mardi Gras Casino and Resort after rejecting the resort's most recent offer in the union's ongoing insurance negotiations.
The resort is seeking to increase employees' premium contribution by more than 200 percent and eliminate the union's ability to bargain over insurance changes in the future, according to a release from the USW. Union members have been negotiating since the first week of August, and the union offered to split the premium increase with the company 50/50 -- an offer the resort rejected, according to the release.
The USW represents about 350 employees of Mardi Gras. A vote to authorize a strike will allow the USW to organize a strike should it choose to do so, but does not guarantee a strike.