Casino news source: Norwich Bulletin - http://www.norwichbulletin.com/
Casino group loses status
Foxwoods worker council dissolved
By JESSICA DURKIN
Norwich Bulletin
MASHANTUCKET -- A long-standing group representing Foxwoods Resort Casino employees has been disbanded by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.
It will be replaced with a system of employee focus groups, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation spokesman Arthur Henick said Saturday.
Foxwoods President John A. O'Brien released a memo dated Jan. 25, informing workers the Employee Group Council, a peer-based employee representation group, will be replaced with a new Departmental Communication Policy to "provide feedback and information to management, improve communication, increase job satisfaction and to maintain a safe working environment," according to the memo.
Former Employee Group Council Chairman Stephen Getchell said the group, made up of 74 representatives from all the gaming and hotel departments, has existed for more than 10 years. Workers active in the group are shocked and angry with the change, he said.
"I'm kind of surprised at the news that they dissolved the EGC," Getchell said. "I had always believed as our mission statement that we were the permanent representatives for Foxwoods employees until the employees no longer wanted us."
The company employs more than 11,000 people.
Henick said the focus groups will contain from five to 20 randomly selected employees, depending on the size of the department, who will solicit feedback from the employees.
"This is really an evolution that is part of the new departmental communication policy at Foxwoods that dates back to last July," Henick said. "This new evolution reflects a more inclusive and diverse communications process."
Getchell said he learned about the dissolution Friday when he was called into a meeting by management for an unrelated issue. After discussing the issue, Getchell said the deputy executive of human resources and a person from employee relations told him the group was terminated.
Although Foxwoods employees are non-union, Getchell said the group functioned as a mediator or liaison between aggrieved employees and management.
"It wasn't a union, but it was similar to a union -- that type of atmosphere," Getchell said. "The biggest loss is not having someone they can go talk to, someone who is not a manager, somebody who is rank and file like they are without going to management. It's just more of a secure feeling -- a lot of people are afraid to complain."
On New Year's Eve, nearly 400 disgruntled Foxwoods employees, mostly from the gaming department, staged a sick-out to protest what they say is an eroding benefits and compensation package.
Getchell said the Employee Group Council urged employees not to participate in the sick-out and instead wait for the new compensation package to be rolled out before taking any action.
Henick released a statement Saturday from Steve Heise, Foxwoods' vice president for human resources.
"We would like to thank the EGC for all of the hard work that they have done," Heise said. "I appreciate all of the concerns that have been brought forward by this group. Their concerns will be addressed and responded to.
"We appreciate Steve Getchell's leadership of the group," Heise said. "We look forward to continuing focus groups and responding to the issues raised."
Reach Jessica Durkin at 774-5563 or jdurkin@norwichbulletin.com |
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