Maybe it slipped by me but the president never used the word "union" in last night’s State of The Union address. Kudos to him for talking about the jobs crisis in America, and he correctly criticized the immoral and irresponsible behavior of too many Wall Street bankers and the Supreme Court’s decision to let corporations buy our democracy. But, it is not a world-class education that will help Americans–if wages are consistently beaten down no matter how educated you are. It’s the right of people to collectively stand up to corporate power that will rebuild a decent living standard.

   In honor of that, let’s celebrate this (courtesy of the AFL-CIO):

The Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Enterprise d/b/a Foxwoods Resort Casino and UAW Local 2121 have reached a tentative agreement on a first-ever union contract covering 2,500 casino dealers at Foxwoods and MGM Grand on the Mashantucket Pequot reservation.

If approved by the membership, the contract provides an average 12 percent increase in dealers’ wages over two years, and establishes a more equitable distribution of tips resulting in additional significant increases for the overwhelming majority of dealers.

The contract creates what the union calls "an industry model" for job safety, including programs to reduce repetitive stress injuries, a major extension of medical leave time for workers out with serious illnesses for more than six months, and a unique 24-table "smoke-free pit" to help workers vulnerable to second-hand smoke and provide customers with a smoke-free haven.

"This is a great victory for us.  This preserves our basic benefits during a tough economy, provides job security and contract improvements in so many areas.  We see this agreement as a win-win for employees and for the future success of the casino," said Denise Gladue, a Baccarat dealer who’s been working at Foxwoods for 15 years.