Casino workers testify to Mississippi Gaming Commission

Workers at the IP Casino and Beau Rivage testified this morning to the Mississippi Gaming Commission.

Workers at the ip casino and- beau rivage testified this- morning to the mississippi- gaming commission.- unite here local 23, the casino- workers union, reported that 10- workers from the beau rivage- and 5 workers from ip casino- tested positive for covid-19.

- the union is calling for daily- cleaning of hotel rooms,- stronger enforcement of safety- guidelines, - including mask wearing and- social distancing, and- improved contact tracing.

- two casino workers testified to- the gaming- commission expressing their - concerns about their work - environment.- one of the individuals that - testified was ip casino guest - room attendant, carolyn ford.

- according to ford she was calle- into work at the ip casino- prior to her covid-19 test- results coming in.- - "on thursday they were like can i come- back to work but they hadn't- gotten my results yet and they- said can you come - - - - back friday and i was like no i- can come back saturday.

The - nurse called me and - told me it was positive.

What i- this test was positive i could- have spreaded it- - - - onto my coworkers" ford also shared with news 25 - that ip casino told her - that asking her to come in- before her results was an - accident and they meant to call- some else... ford finds this- unlikely.

- - "we have to make sure we are having continuous health and- safety meetings every - week so we don't feel like the- company is being transparent as- someone becomes - - - - positive or that they test- positive or that they are becom- positive or that they're- dong contact testing.

So it can- trickle down to many workers- - - - that can trickle down to the- guest."

In the report the union - submitted to the gaming - commission, it- says that in a survey conducted- at the beau rivage and- ip casino, 70% of surveyed- workers reported the- casino guests rarely followed - social distancing guidelines.

- - and the beau rivage is- responding following- today's meeting between the - gaming commission and - casino workers.

- they say, quote:- "at beau rivage, we take the safety of our employees and - our guests very seriously.- prior to reopening, we worked - with health experts - to develop our comprehensive- 'seven point safety plan' and - ensured that every employee was- thoroughly trained."

"we work hard every day to ensure compliance by- both employees and guests - especially when it comes to - masks and social distancing.

We- have made it very clear that- failure to enforce or comply- with our health and - safety rules could result in- disciplinary action and we- encourage employees to raise- concerns either directly- or