Employees at Rivers Casino Portsmouth have achieved a significant milestone in Virginia’s gaming sector by becoming the first casino workforce in the state to ratify a union contract.

Represented by Teamsters Local 822, the workforce expressed overwhelming support, with 95% voting in favor of the collective bargaining agreement. This contract establishes enhanced standards for compensation, benefits, time off, and safety in the workplace, as reported by The Virginian Pilot.

“This marks a pivotal moment in history,” declared James Wright, president of Teamsters Local 822. “For the first time, Virginia gaming workers possess a legally enforceable union contract that ensures guaranteed salary increases, robust benefits, and protections against unjust terminations. This agreement is a testament to what can be accomplished when employees unite to improve their industry.”

Key features of the agreement include nearly 16% salary increases over the contract’s duration, employer-subsidized health insurance, safeguards against arbitrary dismissal, as well as additional paid leave, as indicated by the union.

Opened in 2023, Rivers Casino Portsmouth stands as one of three operational casinos within Virginia; the others are based in Bristol and Danville.

A fourth casino is underway in Norfolk, where the Virginia Lottery Board recently approved a gaming license for a temporary facility scheduled to commence operations next month. The permanent casino and resort is projected to be finished by 2027.

Teamsters Local 822 represents over 3,000 employees throughout Hampton Roads, and union officials believe this deal could set a precedent for labor standards in Virginia’s burgeoning gaming market.