Jobs, Unions and Casinos

A dear friend from Palmer mentioned that she and her husband have been reading this blog and they noticed that I had nothing positive written about casinos. An interesting observation, and one to which I feel compelled to respond. The Republican newspaper recorded my statements last week that the upside of casinos is certainly the construction jobs that are created when a large enterprise is built.

This is particularly true in Massachusetts where prevailing-wage union jobs are lucrative.

I was raised in a union family and thank God that my father had the security offered to him and his family that the Plumbers and Gasfitters Local 12 provided. The union has continued to be very good to him during the past 15 years while he has struggled with debiliatating health issues and I am eternally grateful.



Now, I have no idea what people like the casino investors get for a retirement gift, but the certificate above was a highlight for my father.

Going back a little deeper into my family roots with unions my grandfather Albert D. Huckins (ninth or tenth generation English immigrant, 1640) is seen in this picture taken in Medford, MA during the Division 6 Salem Street Station strike in 1912 of the Carmen's Union. He drove the "El" and is the handsome gent with the double breasted suit just under the flag.



Studying the question of gambling is not new to me. As a Health Educator and Counselor I have researched issues of gambling addiction and witnessed devastating consequences for families impacted by compulsive gambling. More recently studying the Administration's proposal and the acknowlegements that there will be increased domestic violence, child neglect, drunk driving and bankruptcies as well as serious questions about the projected revenues , no contingencies for market saturation and downturns, or local aid, I have come to the conclusion that I cannot stand with my union brothers and sisters in supporting expanded gambling in Massachusetts. It is not without regret, nor without sadness that I have reached that conclusion. So to answer my friends query, casinos are positive for the creation of temporary union construction jobs.