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Industry standards board urges childcare, transit and safety supports for arena workers in Detroit
Summary
An industry standards board presenting to Detroit City Council recommended expanded child care hours, transit supports, job training and enhanced security after a Wayne State survey found many arena workers face poverty, unstable schedules and benefits gaps.
Joe Miller, chair of the Industry Standards Board for Sports Arenas, told Detroit City Council that a Wayne State University–commissioned study and interviews with workers, unions and employers show arena employees face widespread financial and scheduling insecurity.
“Eighty‑three percent of arena workers cited wages as one of their top concerns,” Miller said in his presentation, summarizing the board’s research and final recommendations to the council. He also proposed expanding child‑care hours, creating a hiring hall and strengthening after‑hours security for people who work late shifts.
The board opened the presentation with a worker testimony. “Serving as an elevator assistant is more than just a job for me,” said Catherine Burnett, who identified herself as an elevator assistant at Little Caesars Arena since 2017. Burnett described late‑night shifts, long hours and safety concerns around bus stops and poor lighting, and urged the council to adopt standards to improve training, leave protections and on‑site safety.
Miller emphasized that while municipalities lack authority to set wages under state preemption, the board’s recommendations provide non‑wage tools to help workers, including:
- Expanded and subsidized child‑care hours and employer vouchers for nights and weekends; - Transit supports such as reduced fares or employer‑provided transit benefits and after‑hours security for employer parking; - Job training and a hiring hall developed with unions and employers; - Heightened security protocols, de‑escalation training and a Worker Health and Safety Council.
Council members thanked the board for the report and pressed one policy point repeatedly: state preemption prevents local wage mandates. Member Santiago Romero urged action at the state level to “remove preemption” so cities can pursue local wage floors or entertainment fees tied to stadium activity. Other members said the city can still pursue the board’s non‑wage recommendations and coordinate with employers and unions to implement them.
The Industry Standards Board said it will remain in place for another 12 months to take further action if needed and to help the city and employers implement the recommendations. Council members noted the board’s findings will inform future development negotiations and community benefits discussions for stadium projects in Corktown and elsewhere.
What happens next: Council members said they will review the full report provided to the council and follow up with the board and city departments to explore implementing the recommendations, including targeted security and transit strategies for late‑shift workers.
