Twin River workers may strike
Union workers at Twin River Casino are warning that they may go on strike following cuts to their healthcare coverage. The workers, members of UNITE HERE Local 26, protested at the Rhode Island State House today to warn lawmakers of the potential strike. Valerie Costa has been...
Union workers at Twin River Casino are warning that they may go on strike following cuts to their healthcare coverage. The workers, members of UNITE HERE Local 26, protested at the Rhode Island State House today to warn lawmakers of the potential strike.
Valerie Costa has been working as a bartender at Twin River Casino for four years. She said many workers were drawn to Twin River because of the healthcare coverage they offered, but that they were dropped to a lower plan in January. Costa’s spouse and her two children are covered under her health insurance, and her premiums have gone up hundreds of dollars this year.
“At the end of the week, I have a negative check sometimes and end up owing the company money. How does that work? It’s insane,” she said.
Many Twin River employees now skip going to the doctor’s office because they can’t afford it under the new healthcare plan, Costa said. The union workers are demanding that their health benefits be restored, and that family healthcare be made more affordable. Otherwise, they say they’ll go on strike.
“I love the company I work for, I love doing what I do for a living, and I want to continue doing it. But under these circumstances…it’s enraging that I work for a company that thinks it’s okay to do what they do to us,” Costa said.