Thanks to Kay Tillow for sending us this.
This Friday, join us in solidarity to distribute leaflets in support of valets at Churchill Downs. The valets are members of SEIU Local 541. Your presence will send a solidarity message that can make Churchill Downs do the right thing.
-- Meet at 10 a.m. at ATU Hall, 2222 S. 9th St. Louisville (Volunteers can park free at the ATU Hall which is a little less than a mile from Churchill Downs.)
-- Leaflet 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Churchill Downs
Union members and supporters are asked to help with informational leafleting in support of the valets, who don't park cars. "Valet" is a horse racing term for a worker who saddles the horses and ensure safe and compliant races.
Valets are essential to the success of the Kentucky Derby and all of the races at Churchill Downs racetrack and Turfway Park.
Valets help Churchill Downs make their billions. Yet, Churchill Downs has refused to negotiate a fair contract that values and respects this dangerous and important work. Churchill Downs cancelled the last scheduled bargaining session and has refused to come back to the table.
These workers are in the fight of their lives and the Greater Louisville Central Labor Council and our proud union family is here to help them expose the greed of Churchill Downs.
-- $1.054 BILLION: Churchill Downs’ revenue in 2020 – what it called a “bad” year. (The total was the second highest net revenue in its history.)
-- $10.5 MILLION: Compensation for Churchill Downs’ CEO in this same “bad” year.
-- 404 TO 1: Ratio of compensation of CEO to average fulltime employee
-- $27,000: Approximately the cumulative amount per year between the parties’ proposals and the amount that the Churchill Downs CEO makes in less than one day.
THE VALETS ARE ASKING FOR:
-- A fair day’s wage that acknowledges their 10+ year wage freeze for all valets in Kentucky
-- An increase in pension contributions to ensure a secure retirement
-- A minimum staffing guarantee to ensure their safety
TELL CHURCHILL DOWNS TO DO THE RIGHT THING!