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Message from a Mutuel Clerk and my response to email list.
I have been asked to forward this message to prominent media/administrators/management that I know in the industry. Full disclosure, my wife is a mutuel clerk, so I have a vested interest in the potential strike. Thanks, Bob.
My Window: Where people step up and try to predict the future with cold, hard cash
I have not seen it all, but I have seen a lot. The view I have had from my window has been amazing. I have met celebrities, royalty, the very rich, and the down and out. I have spent 45 years, at my window, and would not want to be anywhere else. I have made friends with people from all over the world. Even though we speak a different language, I can see we share a connection from the experience. I have taught, I have lectured, I have educated. I have even called races for customers who could not see. I know I have made a difference.
The changes I have seen, from my window, are very hard to view. Automation is not a way to create atmosphere. I see greed, stupidity and hate. Those are very ugly words, but true. The decisions being made are deteriorating our industry to the point, if not corrected, will destroy what we all care about so much. To take away my view will be a huge loss to me. But, it will be a bigger loss to the industry.
Ron McClellan (Local 280)
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I support the Mutuel Clerks having a good deal and I don’t want to see anyone out of work. And yes there are less jobs with no end in sight.
BUT
They’ve never stood up for the Customers when we’ve boycotted or supported our suggestions and ideas to grow the game so there would be more jobs and not less. We boycotted because the takeout hikes were abusive and still are. And the game isn’t growing by any significant measure given the years of handle being down. I may be wrong but I’ve never heard anyone from the Union speak up for the Customers at any CHRB meeting or in any article.
Bottom line is that I’m for the Gamblers and the Gamblers go to the track to bet. If the Mutuel Clerks don’t want to take the bets then we gotta go mobile or use self-serve machines.
I hope the situation is resolved but I don’t see any upside for the Union in this circumstance. I do see that if they don’t go to work the Industry won’t forget it and there will be less work and not more. Blindsiding Del Mar is just going to make them more hostile and not less.
BTW I was in two Unions in my life. The last was as a Teamster.
We never quit,
A
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