MGM Springfield prepares for reopening; union expects not all workers will return right away – MassLive.com

SPRINGFIELD MGM Springfield the nearly 2-year-old, $960 million resort casino in Springfields South End is calling back employees ahead of a planned July 13 reopening.

But an official with its largest labor union doesnt expect everyone to resume their jobs initially, if at all.

MGM Springfield had about 2,500 employees before the state ordered it an Massachusetts two other casinos to close in mid-March to arrest the spread of the coronavirus. Four months later, the casinos will reopen under virus safety restrictions imposed by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

Some 600 of the 2,500 people working at MGM Springfield before the shutdown were members of Unite Here, said Ethan Snow, chief of staff for the New England Joint Board of the union.

I dont know, its definitely going to be a lot less on reopening day, he said of the number of workers. Definitely less.

Hes expecting that bars and restaurants either wont be open or will have operations curtailed, for example. MGM has said its hotel and spa will remain closed for the time being, and valet service will not be available.

Dining options will be limited initially to the Tap Sports Bar, South End Market and Costas pizza. Liquor and other drinks will be available on the casino floor and in connection with seated dining.

In accordance with rules from the state Gaming Commission, MGM will disable slot machines to accommodate six feet between players. Poker, roulette and craps will not be offered.

Unite Here represents hotel housekeepers, bartenders, cocktail servers, casino porters and cleaners. Dealers at gambling tables are not in the union, but its members include slot attendants who cash folks out.

There are other unions representing workers at the casino, including the Teamsters, Electrical Workers and Stage Hands.

MGM is keeping all the laid-off employees on its health insurance plan through the end of August, including ones who are not called back right away. Thats according to both the company and to Snow.

"That's a really big thing for people," Snow said.

Snow said hes proud of protections Unite Here negotiated for its members in the areas of cleaning, sanitization and protections for workers who must interact with the public. MGM has announced mask policy covering all its locations.

In the meantime, some workers are getting called back.

"People have been slowly trickling back and receiving training on what the operation is going to look like once it reopens," Snow said.

MGM spokeswoman Jocelyn Kelly did not go into detail in emails responding to questions from The Republican this week.

We are bringing back employees based on available amenities and business demand, she wrote. Its an evolving situation.

MGM will reopen with Chris Kelley, president of the Northeast Group at MGM Resorts, taking on new responsibilities at MGMs Empire City Casino in Yonkers, just north of New York City.

MGM announced back in May that Kelley who is still less than six months into his time here in Springfield was named president of the Yonkers facility as well. The move came as part of a companywide management shakeup that saw four MGM presidents lose their jobs. Kelleys appointment is pending approval by New York state gaming regulators.

He came to Springfield in January from an MGM property in Ohio. He replaced Mike Mathis, who shepherded the MGM Springfield project though regulatory approvals and construction, to its opening in 2018, and through its first several months of lackluster financial performance.

Before the casino opened, MGM Resorts International told regulators it would bring in an average of $34.8 million a month in gross gambling revenue from slot machines and table games. Instead, the average over its first 18 full months was $21.5 million. The peak was $26.9 million in September 2018, MGM Springfields first full month of operation.

MGM promised to create 3,000 jobs here, but has fallen well short of that goal.