[email protected]Office of General Services 41st Floor, Corning Tower Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12242 New York State Gaming Commission PO Box 7500 Schenectady, New York 123017500 CC: Joanne D. Yepsen, Mayor Comments Regarding NYRA Saratoga Capital Improvements Proposal The Hotel Trades Council represents 35,000 hospitality & gaming workers throughout New York and northern New Jersey, including hundreds of workers employed at NYRA facilities by both NYRA and Centerplate – a vendor that provides food and other services at NYRA tracks. As NYRA looks for approval to redevelop portions of the historic Saratoga track, HTC believes the State Franchise Oversight Board and the Office of General Services should be aware of ongoing labor issues involving workers employed at the track by Centerplate. While it is important that NYRA facilities undergo appropriate renovations, giving NYRA the ability to spend tens of millions of dollars of taxpayer money without making sure the funds aren’t used to further exploit workers is ill advised. Unlike most employers who act in good faith in their labor relations, it is our firm opinion that Centerplate does not. Centerplate has refused to settle an arbitrator’s award which found them underpaying employees hourly wages and cheating workers out of health care and pension benefits which they were contractually required to pay. Moreover, Centerplate employees have been working without a contract for more then half a year. Many employees earn less then $11.50/hour, or the wage Governor Cuomo has advocated for as the State’s minimum. Furthermore, even many employees who have been with the company for more then ten years have no sick days, no holidays and no vacation. Just this past week, Centerplate threatened to unilaterally eliminate waiters in the luxury suites for the upcoming Saratoga meet - the same luxury suites NYRA wishes to enhance — something that the Union considers to be an egregious unfair labor practice. The Union believes this action may be a retaliatory response to these same waiters filing an arbitration to try and recover gratuities the Union contends were misappropriated by Centerplate management For an entity that exists solely thanks to taxpayer money – and has been bailed out again an again by New York State taxpayers – the status quo behavior by management is simply unacceptable. It would be unfathomable to award NYRA the ability to use additional taxpayer dollars to enhance its facilities before Centerplate agrees to treat employees with dignity and respect they deserve.
[email protected] Office of General Services 41st
Floor, Corning Tower Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12242 New York
State Gaming Commission PO Box 7500 Schenectady, New York
12301-7500 CC: Joanne D. Yepsen, Mayor
Comments Regarding NYRA Saratoga Capital Improvements
Proposal
The Hotel Trades Council represents 35,000 hospitality &
gaming workers throughout New York and northern New Jersey,
including hundreds of workers employed at NYRA facilities by both
NYRA and Centerplate a vendor that provides food and other services
at NYRA tracks. As NYRA looks for approval to redevelop portions of
the historic Saratoga track, HTC believes the State Franchise
Oversight Board and the Office of General Services should be aware
of ongoing labor issues involving workers employed at the track by
Centerplate. While it is important that NYRA facilities undergo
appropriate renovations, giving NYRA the ability to spend tens of
millions of dollars of taxpayer money without making sure the funds
arent used to further exploit workers is ill advised. Unlike most
employers who act in good faith in their labor relations, it is our
firm opinion that Centerplate does not. Centerplate has refused to
settle an arbitrators award which found them underpaying employees
hourly wages and cheating workers out of health care and pension
benefits which they were contractually required to pay. Moreover,
Centerplate employees have been working without a contract for more
then half a year. Many employees earn less then $11.50/hour, or the
wage Governor Cuomo has advocated for as the States minimum.
Furthermore, even many employees who have been with the company for
more then ten years have no sick days, no holidays and no vacation.
Just this past week, Centerplate threatened to unilaterally
eliminate waiters in the luxury suites for the upcoming Saratoga
meet - the same luxury suites NYRA wishes to enhance something that
the Union considers to be an egregious unfair labor practice. The
Union believes this action may be a retaliatory response to these
same waiters filing an arbitration to try and recover gratuities
the Union contends were misappropriated by Centerplate management
For an entity that exists solely thanks to taxpayer money and has
been bailed out again an again by New York State taxpayers the
status quo behavior by management is simply unacceptable. It would
be unfathomable to award NYRA the ability to use additional
taxpayer dollars to enhance its facilities before Centerplate
agrees to treat employees with dignity and respect they
deserve.
