Thank you for responding on behalf of Mr. Stanley Crooks of Mystic Lake Casino/Resort and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association to my e-mails and blog postings. As you have noted, my e-mails are being addressed to the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association, not to you personally.
I would have preferred hearing from Mr. Stanley Crooks, but I appreciate hearing from you.
Apparently this particular posting caught your eye and your fancy since you forwarded this with your lengthy letter to me:
RE: Worker's rights, Native rights, sovereignty, Indian Gaming, Labor Unions, Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party, MIGA, racism & political corruption.
I welcome your most enlightened response, take note of your concerns; and look forward to a continuing fruitful dialog with you and your associates with the intent to resolve a number of long-standing problems concerning casino workers, not least of which is the matter of the right of casino workers to be employed in a smoke-free environment while receiving real living wages… after all, one of our members may want to purchase a home in your neighborhood, maybe even become your neighbor.
As the Executive Director of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association you have made some rather outlandish claims about the Indian Gaming Industry here in Minnesota and around the country.
You promised Minnesotans would be getting $40,000.00 a year plus benefit jobs working in casinos; all we want is what you promised.
Mr. McCarthy, I am asking you to assemble representatives from all your members to sit down and negotiate a union contract covering all casino workers in Minnesota. I think one contract would be preferable to having a bunch of separate contracts. Perhaps we could all sit down around your dining room table.
Again, thank you for communicating your thoughts with me and the others you have contacted regarding my e-mails, etc. I trust that your attorney has advised you that it is in the best interest of fairness and justice to all concerned that we reach a collectively bargained agreement and sign a contract as quickly as possible.
Please let me know when you and your associates will be free to meet with us.
I think we are finally beginning to make some progress.
I am sorry I can’t accept your dinner invitation at this time; it just wouldn’t look appropriate. Perhaps, in the future, we can “pop the cork” in celebration of a contract.
I have deleted the better part of your letter since I didn’t know if you wanted it shared with others.
Again, thank you for contacting me and I look forward to further fruitful communications. Hopefully in the future you might be briefer although I do appreciate your writing skills.
Sincerely,
Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council
58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763
Phone: 218-386-2432
Cell phone: 651-587-5541
E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net
Check out my blog:
Thoughts From Podunk
http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/
Cc: Maggie Bird
President,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council
-----Original Message-----
From: john mccarthy [mailto:gamingassoc@midco.net]
Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2009 1:03 PM
To: Alan Maki
Subject: Re: Worker's rights, Native rights, sovereignty, Indian Gaming, Labor Unions, Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party, MIGA, racism & political corruption.
On 6/14/09 2:37 PM, John McCarthy amaki000@centurytel.net wrote:
This is my Sunday blog posting:
http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/workers-rights-native-rights.html
--
Sincerely,
John McCarthy
218-751-0214