Published on: November 13, 2025, 10:36h.
Updated on: November 13, 2025, 11:11h.
- A protest line at Horseshoe Indianapolis was ordered to relocate.
- Teamsters have initiated legal action against the police order.
- An Indiana federal judge ruled in favor of the casino.
Employees involved in table games and dual-rate dealer-supervisors at Horseshoe Indianapolis, located in Shelbyville, have been on strike for nearly a month. The casino, under the ownership of Caesars Entertainment, recently required the protest line to relocate forcefully, and a federal court has confirmed the legality of the casino’s actions.
Around 200 employees at Horseshoe Indianapolis initiated their picket for a union agreement at noon EST on October 17.
The strike follows Caesars’ refusal to permit an independent auditor to supervise the dealers’ vote regarding unionization.
The recently concluded federal government shutdown temporarily halted the union voting process as the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) was categorized as a nonessential agency during the 43-day closure.
Court Endorses Picket Relocation
The table game dealers are deliberating over joining Teamster Local 135. Recently, local police directed the striking workers to shift their protest away from the casino entrance on Michigan Road.
This forced move prompted the Teamsters to file a lawsuit against the City of Shelbyville, alleging violations of their First Amendment rights.
“The Teamsters aim to uphold and exercise their constitutional rights to engage in lawful and peaceful protest,” the lawsuit stated.
The union argued that Michigan Road is a “public thoroughfare” and that the law enforcement’s actions effectively relocated the workers to a distance that undermines their protest purpose.
Judge James Patrick Hanlon, presiding over the Southern Indiana US District Court, ruled against the union, asserting that Michigan Road qualifies as Horseshoe Indianapolis property due to the casino owning adjacent land across the roadway. Hanlon also dismissed a petition for a temporary restraining order.
“The Teamsters do not contest that Horseshoe Casino controls the parking spaces across Michigan Road, nor that the sidewalks and green spaces along Michigan Road merely connect those parking areas to the casino buildings,” wrote Hanlon. “This case is akin to those that determine that even publicly owned areas, which include sidewalks, are not traditional public forums when intended for a restricted purpose.”
Teamsters’ lawyers contended that Michigan Road represents public infrastructure that encompasses the “publicly accessible” Pilot Travel Center.
“Undoubtedly, North Michigan Road is a public thoroughfare available for public use,” they stated. However, Hanlon disagreed.
Strike Persists
On November 13, the NLRB reopened following the conclusion of the federal shutdown. The agency is now addressing pending issues, including the proposed union vote at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
This independent federal agency conducts elections for workers. When the NLRB arranges an election, the employer, like Caesars, is obligated to display an election notice to all affected employees.
The NLRB is responsible for certifying or decertifying union election results, while also providing unions and workers support in safeguarding their rights under the National Labor Relations Act.