Press Contact: Maura Drumm Phone: (215) 510-3735 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(BRISTOL, Va.) – A group of 221 table games dealers and dual rates at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol have voted to join Teamsters Local 519. They’re seeking a fair first contract that includes higher wages, improved benefits, and a strong voice on the job.

“Dealers and dual rates are the backbone of the gaming floor, and when they stand together, they have the power to win real improvements on the job,” said Tommy Blitsch, Director of the Teamsters Convention, Trade Show, and Casino Division. “It was the best decision to choose the Teamsters, and we’re proud to support them as they move forward in securing a fair first contract.”

The dealers are responsible for operating table games such as blackjack, roulette, and poker. They manage the games, handle chips and payouts, and ensure games are conducted fairly and efficiently.

“It was a team effort from start to finish, and we had the best team to fight for representation, including our organizer, Marty Hinch,” said Wes Trotterchaud, President of Local 519. “At the drop of a hat we were ready to support this group in their effort to join the Teamsters. Their determination carried over, and they’re going to reap the benefits.”

“Choosing to join the Teamsters was about securing respect, stability, and a voice on the casino floor,” said Anthony Keen, a table games dealer/dual rate and proud new member of Local 519. “We’re ready to negotiate a contract that reflects the hard work we do every day.”

Nationwide, the Teamsters represent nearly 6,000 members at casinos and casino hotels.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.

Historic Organizing Fuels Strength of North America’s Most Powerful Union

Press Contact: Kara Deniz Phone: (202) 497-6610 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

100K Members

(WASHINGTON) – The International Brotherhood of Teamsters announced today that 100,000 workers have joined the union since March 2022, marking one of the most successful organizing periods in modern labor history and underscoring the growing demand for strong union representation across the U.S. and Canada.

The milestone is the result of an aggressive organizing strategy led by Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien and General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman, who made union growth a top priority and invested heavily in organizing, bargaining, and contract enforcement.

“If anyone is still questioning whether the Teamsters are breaking through, they’re not paying attention. We’re negotiating record contracts, building powerful bipartisan coalitions, and organizing more than 100,000 new members,” O’Brien said. “The old complacent guard that ran this union before us spent a decade organizing 50,000 workers, and we’ve doubled that in just four years. You don’t see this kind of growth, energy, or militancy anywhere else in the labor movement. The Teamsters are coming for what our members deserve — so get out of our way.”

The Teamsters’ growth has extended far beyond traditional industries. While the union continues to expand in freight, warehousing, delivery, and logistics, tens of thousands of new members have organized in sectors including health care, public services, cannabis, and Amazon. The union is also expanding through internal organizing in Southern “right to work” states, and negotiating neutrality agreements at employers including DHL, American Red Cross, and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits.

“There’s no stronger union in North America than the Teamsters. If workers want the best contracts, the highest wages, the most reliable benefits and protections on the job, they need to become Teamsters today and join the 100,000 new members we’ve organized in just four years,” Zuckerman said. “We are protecting one another and holding corrupt, greedy corporations accountable. This is the just the beginning of a brighter future for this organization.”

The organizing surge includes victories at major companies throughout North America, including UPS, DHL, Costco, Sysco, UNFI, the American Red Cross, and hundreds of smaller employers. It also reflects the Teamsters’ continued success organizing younger workers who are driving a new generation of rank-and-file militancy across nearly every industry.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.

Link to Article:

100,000 New Members in 4 Years - Teamsters Growing Rapidly

Teamsters Take Action tell Congress to bring the Fair Labor Contracts Act up for a vote

Workers shouldn’t have to wait years for their first contract!

Workers have the right to a collective bargaining agreement after they vote for a union, but the law is full of loopholes and companies drag out the negotiation process for years. On average today, it takes 458 days to secure a first contract!

This is a problem that we can solve right now. The Faster Labor Contracts Act establishes a reliable first contract bargaining timeframe.

Even with strong bipartisan support, the Faster Labor Contracts Act has waited nearly two years for a vote.

Teamsters and workers across the country are done waiting for corporate-backed politicians to hold Big Business accountable.

Tell your member of Congress to “sign the discharge petition” and bring the Faster Labor Contracts Act up for a vote!

CLICK THE LINK TO TAKE ACTION: Teamsters Take Action tell Congress to bring the Fair Labor Contracts Act up for a vote

Teamsters Local 61 Scholarships are awarded each year to two (2) graduating seniors in the amount of $500 each. Applications are now open and the deadline to apply and send all required materials is April 30, 2026.