When West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice ordered the closure of the state’s casinos due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we contacted Wheeling Island to discuss the protocols of the layoff. Management’s offer was unacceptable.

The company offered to pay the employees for one week, and then force employees to take all of their vacation and personal days before filing for unemployment. The company also offered two months of health coverage.

The union objected to this offer. First, the current contract states that when an employee is laid off that they are entitled to three months of health coverage. In addition, employees are not required to take all of their paid time off when laid off.

The union asked that the taking of paid time be on a voluntary basis. We also informed management that we were not open to changing the contract to reduce health coverage to two months instead of three months of coverage. Wheeling Island management refused to make these changes so the union rejected the company’s offer.

While the union was agreeable to the one week of pay, we would not agree to the company’s demand that employees be forced to take all of their paid time off and to reduce the health care coverage by a month.

These are the facts. We are hopeful that the company responds to us and does the right thing. We will continue to provide updates as we move forward and we will continue to fight for your rights. 

?If you have any questions, please call your union representative Kevin Nau at 724-514-3228, Extension 211.

Thank you,