TIVERTON, R.I. Sept 2 2018 — The union representing security guards at the Twin River’s Tiverton Casino Hotel said it will hold an informational picket at Saturday’s grand opening of the casino following the firing of five security guards, including union president Charles Mulcahy and union secretary Timothy Panell.

“We just want people to be aware that they’re opening a brand new beautiful casino and we want to be a part of the casino,” said Ralph Ezovski, a spokesman for the Casino Security Officers Association of Rhode Island. “But we feel we’re being treated unfairly.”

The main point of contention is the status of the five men. The casino classified them as management due to their designation on the floor as captains, according to Ezovski. The union disagrees with that classification.

“They [the captains] don’t have the ability to hire or fire, they’re not making decisions,” he said. “Therefore they’re line supervisors.”

Ezovski added that the casino has refused to discuss other issues until their status is resolved and has been continuing to fill new positions that could be filled by the fired personnel.

“They offered them [the five] jobs in Lincoln but we said ‘no,’” he said. “We suggested they take the new people and put them in Lincoln, which is a separate entity from Tiverton … We’ve been negotiating in regards to Tiverton only.”

Twin River did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

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