Squawk Box Questions and Answers

*All questions are cut and pasted or copied as written

Q: “We need both doors open to come into work, especially for winter”

A:  They currently have two entrances in use.  The issue was having appropriate staffing for wellness checks at the doors. 

Q: “ A meal a day provided to each employee by the company would be great!”

A:  Sounds like a great idea and one that we previously included in our negotiation prep survey to all the members back in 2019.  We can certainly include that suggestion/proposal when we enter into formal negotiations. 

Q: “I would like to have a way to signal to players and EVS that a player potion needs to be cleaned.  I think that a few red post-its notes that could be placed on the plexiglass in a position that needs to be cleaned would be easily and cheaply serve this purpose”

A: Not a bad idea! We can inquire with Table Games and EVS if there is a way to signal EVS.  A post-it note may cause an issue or not be allowed by the lottery or surveillance, but we can certainly inquire to see if there is something that can be done. 

Q: “To only speak English on the floor and not other languages” 

A: As far as we are aware, the rule is that only English can be spoken on the gaming floor. We can inquire further with Table Games. 

Q: “When will we get our 2 for 2 back?”

A: At this point we do not know.  The 2 for 2 is a courtesy provided by the Casino.  The language of your Collective Bargaining Agreement states it’s 2 points per day for call outs and that is what they are currently following.  We can ask Kevin Brown when he expects the 2 for 2 to return. 

Q: “All 6 am time starts should by default go back to former grave shift crew or at the least, scheduling should take requests”

A: Now that the Casino is going back to 24/7, we expect most dealers to be returning to their original shifts.  It may not happen immediately due to business needs of each shift but we are on the right track of getting back to normal shift designations. 

Q: “Separately give pto and sick time balances to full time employees. Our paychecks only show pto”

Also question? Can we take state sick day without having pto? I tried using a state day and they took my pto. I have read the state guidelines and it doesnt state we need pto nor can the company force us to use it. How does the state sick day work??

A: Unfortunately, as of right now, there is no way to separate sick time from PTO.  Your PTO, Paid Time Off, is your sick time.  It's essentially your “everything” time; sick, personal and vacation time.  If you are not accruing PTO then your sick time will accrue one hour for every 35 hours you work.  Your PTO accrues faster than the sick time and, therefore, the Casino is in compliance with the state law.  Unfortunately, you have to use your PTO when you take a sick day, your PTO is your sick time.

Below is the Link to the Rhode Island General Law, Healthy and Safe Families and Workplaces Act -

http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE28/28-57/INDEX.HTM

Q: “When we finally get a raise, will it be retro?”

A: We always consider any monies to be retroactive for the members.  It is the Union's goal to always improve the bargaining unit financially as well as procedurally.  However, anything provided retroactively has to be negotiated. So for that reason,  I cannot provide a concrete answer.  Even when the Union is not engaged in formal negotiations, we are always talking with the Employer to improve your Collective Bargaining Agreement.  We also try to resolve matters through Labor Management Committee meetings, which due to COVID, were put on hold.  However, we do plan on beginning to get those meetings back on the calendar. 

Q; “Why are we still out of a contract?”

A: You are not out of a contract. All Local Union 711 members are currently working under an active and current Collective Bargaining Agreement. Your Collective Bargaining Agreement has not expired.  The language in Article XXVII: Duration of Agreement clause provides for the renewal year to year, unless either party provides written notice to the other party of their desire to change the terms and conditions of the contract. 

Q: “If 10pm-6am time starts continue, as a FULL TIME dealer with higher seniority I should not be getting 4 days out of my 5 days as a 10 oclock time starts when there are pt dealers with low seniority who are getting all 6 and 8 time starts with no 10 time starts”

A: Unfortunately, neither seniority or full time status has any bearing on what time starts you are given.  Below is the Management Rights Article, which embodies the rights of the Employer. I have added emphasis to the areas in your question. I understand there is frustration around the schedule, how it's done, and what games are dealt.  While the Employer is not in violation of your contract, we can reach out to Kevin and try to work through some of the scheduling issues. 

ARTICLE III: MANAGEMENT RIGHTS

The Union recognizes that the management of the Company, the right to hire employees; to assign work and require overtime work; to manage and direct the workforce; to promote and demote employees; to transfer employees; to discipline, suspend and/or discharge employees for just cause; to lay-off employees for lack of work or other legitimate reasons; to require employees to follow reasonable Company rules and regulations; to determine work schedules, staffing and hours of work; and at all times to determine the number of employees that are to be employed in the various departments and job classifications covered by this Agreement, are vested exclusively in the Employer.  The Union further recognizes that the Employer shall have the sole right to determine all work processes and shall not be obligated to employ any number of employees in excess of what the Employer deems necessary.  

Q: “We have a lot off dealers & floor that were told they were in close contact with a Covid positive coworker. Now they have scrambling to get tested. This is leaving us very short staffed (which equates to less money the state is making). Since we have Tiverton fire/paramedics on the premises, could we get them to administer rapid test for workers right there.”

A: That is a great suggestion and one we can certainly ask the Employer about.

Q: “Why is water wet?”

A: Answer provided by Google: 

“Water is wet because when something is wet, it has water on it and on a molecular level, water molecules are bonded on top of each other, therefore water is wet.” An extension to the previous argument that a couple of students brought up was that one water molecule alone is not wet, but when water molecules touch each other, they make each other wet. This causes a bunch of water molecules together (which one would classify as water) to be wet.”