NITRO, W.Va. — Union members of United Steel Workers Union at Mardi Gras casino will either accept a new health insurance proposal Friday or likely strike, according to union representative Heather Anderson.
“Tomorrow’s vote is a strike vote. So there wouldn’t be a need for a second vote,” Anderson explained. “Unless of course there were any other modifications, then that would be presented to membership as well.”
Currently the Nitro-based casino pays 90 percent of the insurance premium for its workers. The change will be closer to a 75- 25 split, which Anderson says will cost the workers significantly more a year.
“There’s still the other big concern out there, which is the increase to employees contributions,” she said. “It’s actually an increase of over $1100 a year for the employees from what we currently pay now.”
She said initially the proposal would have required employees to pay 9.5 percent of their income. They compromised on 75 percent, even though the union was hoping for closer to 80 percent.
“We understand healthcare costs are expensive. The union’s last proposal on the table was an 80-20 split. The union realizes there is some give and take. We have made a proposal that it would be 80-20, but the company is sticking to 75-25 at this time.”
Anderson insisted that Friday’s vote would be do or die for the USW.
“Tomorrow’s vote is a vote to accept the proposal, or to reject the proposal and authorize a strike,” she said.