Government Shutdown Temporarily Shuts Down Casino Workers’ Unionization Plan
Posted on: October 14, 2025, 08:12h.
Last updated on: October 14, 2025, 09:17h.
- The government shutdown is impeding the planned unionization of table game dealers at Horseshoe Indianapolis
- Caesars is reportedly not willing to allow a third-party auditor to conduct the union vote
The federal government’s shutdown has — at least temporarily — put a casino workforce’s efforts to unionize on hold.
More than 200 employees at Horseshoe Indianapolis in Shelbyville, Ind., are seeking to unionize through the Teamsters Local 135. The union, representing 12K workers in the airline, warehouse, and freight industries, additionally bargains on behalf of casino table-game dealers and slot attendants.
Horseshoe Indianapolis croupiers manage the 65 table games at the casino owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment. They had planned to vote on whether to join the Teamsters this Friday, October 17, but the government shutdown, which has halted funding for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), has stalled those plans.
Teamsters proposed carrying on with the planned vote, but instead of the NLRB handling the secret ballot cards, the union would bring in a neutral third-party to tally the results. Teamsters reps say the casino has been unresponsive to that request.
Strike Initiated
Along with the 65 table games, Horseshoe Indianapolis has 1,500 slot machines and a Caesars Sportsbook. The racino additionally offers 123 live racing days a year and year-round parimutuel betting on horse racing.
Teamsters Local 135 President Dustin Roach says the table game workers seeking to unionize have been authorized to walk off the job beginning Tuesday until Caesars at least responds to its request to have an independent auditor count the votes on October 17.
“Casino management has ignored the proposal while escalating an aggressive union-busting campaign,” said Roach, as reported by the Indianapolis Business Journal.
The Teamsters already represent slot attendants at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Roach conceded that a strike amongst workers who haven’t yet received union recognition is rare, but the action is needed to pressure the casino into allowing a third-party to handle the vote.
Government Shutdown Persists
The federal government shut down on October 1 after Congress failed to resolve a budget deadlock. The partisan stalemate put approximately 750K federal employees on unpaid leave.
Essential workers, such as TSA and air traffic control workers, are required to continue to work without pay. A 2019 law ensures that their time worked will be paid in full once the government reopens.
Most of the NLRB doesn’t fall under the essential umbrella. The federal agency is entrusted with enforcing the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, a statute regarding collective bargaining and unfair labor practices.
The NLRB has the authority to supervise elections for labor union representation and to investigate allegations of union-busting tactics among employers.
The National Labor Relations Board is closed due to a lapse in appropriated funds resulting from a government shutdown. Most functions have been suspended, with limited activities only for emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property,” the NLRB said.
The Senate has held seven failed votes to reopen the government. The current shutdown is the 11th federal government shutdown since 1980. The longest government shutdown — 35 days — was experienced in 2019, also under President Donald Trump.
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