Area Unions Endorse MGM National Harbor
Wednesday, October 23, 2013(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
The Gaming
Employment Opportunities
Coalition for National Harbor (GEOC) yesterday endorsed MGM National Harbor’s
bid to develop and operate a casino (left)
in Prince George’s County. UNITE HERE Local 25, the
Washington DC Building Trades Council, Teamsters Local 639, Operating Engineers
Local 99, and IATSE Local 22 – who represent over 40,000 workers across the
region, including those in the service, construction, entertainment and
hospitality industries -- said that the endorsement is “a testament to
MGM’s
commitment to recruiting Prince George’s County residents into jobs that will
guarantee dignity in the workplace, living wages, and fair health and pension
benefits.” The resort will be the largest union hospitality and entertainment
employer in the county, bringing over six thousand jobs to the region during
construction and when the casino opens, said Unite HERE Local 25 Executive
Secretary-Treasurer John Boardman. “We look forward to having the same
mutually beneficial partnership with MGM National Harbor like we’ve had
with MGM in Las Vegas, Detroit and throughout the company’s other
properties,”
said Boardman. “MGM Resorts International has a long-standing record of
collaboration with labor unions,” added Vance Ayres, Executive
Secretary-Treasurer of the Washington DC Building Trades Council. “MGM
National
Harbor will represent the largest labor project in Prince George’s County.
They’re the clear choice.”