Strike at Ellis Park
By: Web Producer
Updated: January 2, 2008
Picket lines formed at Ellis Park New Years Day.
More than 150 pari-mutuel clerks who work the betting windows and other related jobs at the track have rejected a concessionary contract offer from track owner Ron Geary.
Geary has proposed to slash clerks pay by $3.80 an hour to $12.
He also wants to reduce their minimum work day by one hour to 5.
Two months ago, union members of local 541 unanimously approved a strike vote, giving union officials authority to order a picket line when the current contract expires Monday night at midnight.
Ron Geary told us on the phone Monday that he is very sorry that it had to come to this.
The park will remain open to the public during the strike.
Union members were on the picket line as of 8:00 Tuesday morning.
