Atlantic City workers picket outside Tropicana Casino
Employees are pushing for a new contract that would give them a share of gambling halls’ post-Covid recovery.
The Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City saw hundreds of casino workers and union officials picketing in front of the casino. What the employees are seeking is a contract that would deliver shares of post-Covid recovery funds.
The casinos in Atlantic City and the online partners in total are collectively making more money now than they had before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Casino spokespeople have stated that the statistics are misleading because they only get to keep 30% of online and sports betting money. The casinos have also stated that in-person revenue won from gamblers is the accurate metric to use.
The contract between casinos and Local 54 of the Unite Here union expired on Wednesday. Leaders of the Union and workers have stated that they will demonstrate as often as necessary.
Union President Bob McDevitt said: “We are united, we are ready to fight, and we have very specific asks in a new contract, number one of which is a raise that matters. Our hope is the individual casinos will recognize that these are really big numbers that they are racking up, and that the workers have not had a cost-of-living raise in a while.”
The union has also been negotiating with Caesars Entertainment, which owns Caesars, Harrah’s, and the Tropicana, as well as MGM Resorts International. The company has declined to comment on the recent picketing.
Nikki Schwendemann, an employee of the Atlantic City casino industry for 37 years, said: “Casino workers need a raise. We’ve given back a lot over the years to the casinos, and now gas prices and food prices have gone up and people are desperate.”
It’s believed that a strike could be on the table as well according to Schwendemann. McDevitt said a vote by union members on whether to authorize a strike could be held by the end of June.
McDevitt has also stated that contract talks have been cordial although they haven’t been successful.
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