Twin River Casino Accused Of Withholding Crime Records

LINCOLN, RI — Twin River Casino is facing charges from the National Labor Relations Board, who the Lincoln casino of hiding records of crimes committed against patrons and vendors. Casino management refused to provide records of break-ins, assaults and more requested by the casino employees' union in March, the union said in a press release on Wednesday.

On March 21, the union, which represents the casino's clerks, cashiers, money room and sportsbook employees, among others, requested a complete list detailing break-ins, assaults, burglaries and all other crimes that had happened in the casino over the past three years. According to a release from the union, the information was requested as part of contract negotiations to determine the safety of employees working at the complex.

"My shift ends at 2 or 3 in the morning. I can’t be walking through the parking lots alone at that hour with what’s been going on,"said Gloria Fitzpatrick, a union member and Twin River employee. "We need to know what areas are most unsafe and why, and then we need to do something."

According to the union, the casino acknowledged that incidents occurred but refused to provide specific details unless an employee was involved.

The union's president, Joe Marciano, said Twin River needs to "take employee and guest safety seriously."

"Criminals at the casino don’t ask for Twin River ID’s before they commit a crime," Marciano said. "We've had assaults, firearm threats, vandalism and theft in the parking lots and even on the casino floor. There have been dozens of incidents over the past three years."

The National Labor Relations Board charged the casino with illegally withholding the records and refusing to provide communications with the union's pension plan about instances of counterfeit money or tickets, even though the union said employees can face disciplinary action when this occurs. A trial is set for October 29.

"We are in the midst of union negotiations so we are not surprised by the timing of this accusation," Twin River said in a statement. "That said, should any investigation by the National Labor Relations Board occur, we will cooperate fully."