Saratoga Race Course: Advocates pushing to unionize racetrack backstretch workers

Claiming that the hundreds of hot walkers and grooms who care for the racehorses on a daily basis need representation to ensure that the workers are paid properly, receive medical care and are housed in clean, safe living conditions, union organizer Gilberto Mendoza said he has gathered 675 signatures on a petition to unionize.

He represents the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1430, and has contacted NYRA and the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA) about negotiating a contract, to no avail.

“It’s been rough, especially when you hear the stories about these people putting in work and effort into making sure the horses are ready and prepared to perform at their best,” Mendoza said at a press conference outside the Union Avenue main gate at Saratoga Race Course.

“The stories you hear, the places where these people eat, where they put their food, this is one of the biggest months for the racing association, and for you to see how these people, from day to day, how they live, it’s unacceptable.”

“I hope that NYRA and the trainers will hear the voice of their workers and recognize that what’s good for their workers is ultimately good for them, as well,” said Terry Diggory of the Saratoga Immigration Coalition. “It’s good for the entire horse racing industry to have fair, equitable representation for the workers on the backstretch.”

The backstretch workers are credentialed by NYRA to work at Saratoga, Belmont Park and Aqueduct, but are not technically NYRA employees.

Their employers are whichever individual trainers they work for, of which there are 130 listed on the current barn list.

Besides Mendoza and Diggory, Saratoga Springs commissioner James Montagnino and Gordon Boyd, the Democratic candidate running for Saratoga County supervisor, appeared at the press conference in support of the union.

A 2008 New York State Department of Labor investigation found widespread violations of minimum wage and overtime laws affecting Saratoga backstretch workers.

In 2019, several prominent New York-based trainers were forced to pay $1 million back wages, damages and penalties for state labor law violations. The penalties stemmed from an investigation into wage violations against 350 backstretch workers.

Boyd and Diggory emphasized that the backstretch workforce is particularly vulnerable to mistreatment and in need of representation because most of them are migrants.

“Many of them are here on visas that are temporary or in some other kind of immigration status that gives their employers, the trainers, a significant amount of power over them in the workplace,” Boyd said. “They complain about something, they’re threatened with termination, which is almost the same as deportation.”

“Most of them are immigrants, and that means it’s more difficult to process information, to enter into a negotiation with your employer if English is not your first language,” Diggory said. “The second hurdle is the immigration system itself. Many of the workers are here on visas that tie them to particular conditions and even tie them to a particular employer. This group has special needs.”

Boyd acknowledged a variety of organizations that are devoted to supporting backstretch causes, like the Belmont Child Care Association (BCCA), the Backstretch Employee Service Team (BEST), the New York Race Track Chaplaincy and LifeWorks Community Action.

NYRA opened a permanent backstretch health care clinic run by Saratoga Hospital in July, just before the start of the meet, that offers services for free.

“But in the long run, the dignity and democracy that comes with union representation is really what these folks need, so they can have the dignity and the self-esteem of being able to have some control over their terms of employment,” Boyd said.

“You’re talking about a 19th century business model here that needs to jump all the way into the 21st century.”

“If the worker doesn’t follow the rules of NYRA, they can’t work here,” Mendoza said. “NYRA gives them the badges. NYRA gives them the OK to work here. So how come they’re not responsible for anything? They have to have some kind of accountability in the whole system.”

NYRA vice president of communications Pat McKenna pointed out that NYRA has invested more than $40 million in recent years renovating more than 100 dormitories and continues to modernize backstretch housing at Saratoga and Belmont.

NYRA will soon break ground on the first of three new backstretch dormitories at Saratoga.

“In addition, NYRA’s support of the non-profit organizations operating at Saratoga and Belmont has resulted in a dramatic expansion of primary healthcare options, early childhood care facilities and immigration services,” McKenna said in an email. “These changes are transformational, and have improved the quality of life for the close knit community who live and work at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course.”

In response to the unionization effort, NYTHA president Joe Appelbaum released this statement, in part:

“The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA) is incredibly proud of the services we offer to backstretch workers. …

“There is no doubt that employing agricultural workers in urban and suburban environments is challenging — these are jobs for hard-working, determined men and women, many of them immigrants. NYTHA has been the nation’s leader in worker safety and supporting backstretch workers. The services we provide are incomparable to any other racetrack setting in the country. NYTHA spends almost $2 million every year on programs for our workers including: dental care; vision care; scholarship program for worker children; subsidized day care; immigration and legal services; substance abuse treatment.

“Uninformed advocates can talk the talk but NYTHA’s staff and affiliates are out walking the walk every day, providing the sort of support and service that makes a difference in people’s lives.”

Contact Mike MacAdam at mikemac@dailygazette.com. Follow on X @Mike_MacAdam.