Thursday's rally will include a guerilla theater action to illustrate the plight of low-wage workers facing skyrocketing health care costs. Passing motorists won't be able to miss seeing a mock casino hospital, where the health of low-wage workers and their families is left to games of chance. 

"If Trump Indiana raises insurance costs, low-wage casino workers will be forced to chose between paying rent, putting food on the table and paying for health care," explains HERE Local 1 spokeswoman Clare Fauke. "We want to show Trump management how it feels to have your employer gamble with you and your family's health care."

Community allies will also join Thursday's action to show support for Trump workers. Many local leaders, including elected officials and heads of labor and retiree groups have sent letters to Trump Indiana's general manager to express outrage at the company's proposals. 

Al Samter, president of the 1,300 member Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees Local 1014, told Trump General Manager Cathy Walker that the company's proposals demonstrate "an utter disregard for the health of workers and the community." Samter said his members, who are regular patrons of the casino, are  "painfully aware of the vital need for affordable family health insurance," and will continue to support the struggle of riverboat workers.

Local 1 has been in negotiations with Trump Indiana, Majestic Star, Harrah's East Chicago and Buffington Harbor Pavilion since July 2001.  While the union has made significant gains in language protecting the workers' rights on the job, Trump has refused to offer a fair economic package. 

On April 8th, Trump employees rejected the company's offer by a vote of 75 to 30, a 2½ to 1 margin. Trump management then threatened to pull retroactive wage increases if workers didn't accept the offer. On May 24th, Trump workers responded by delivering a petition to general manager Cathy Walker. The petition, signed by over 85% of bargaining unit employees, rejected the company's ultimatum as well as its most recent contract offer, and demanded fair wages and affordable health care.

The Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union (HERE) Local 1 represents over 14,000 hospitality workers in the Chicago area.