Workers at two Atlantic City have authorized union leaders to call a strike if a new contract is not agreed upon by the end of the month. UNITE HERE Local 54 stated that 97% of workers at Resorts Casino Hotel and the Golden Nugget voted in favor of the strike.
Bartender J Eger at Golden Nugget casino said: "We just want what workers at the other casinos in the city are getting. We’re not asking for any more or any less than that."
Workers at seven other casinos in Atlantic City have already reached a new contract, which was finalized earlier this month. UNITE HERE Local 54 says the contracts ratified by Borgata, Caesars, Harrah’s, Hard Rock and Tropicana will also be adopted by Ocean and Balley’s.
The union went on to add that around 1,000 workers at Resorts and Golden Nugget remain without contract agreements.
At the other casinos, workers have received significant raises, under which housekeeping employees will immediately see their hourly salary increased to $18 and pay will increase to $22 per hour at the end of the four-year contract.
Union President Bob McDevitt said: "It’s hard to sell a housekeeping job at $16 an hour. It’s a lot easier to sell one at $20 or $22 an hour."
Dave Dorfman, a member of the worker negotiating committee added: "Now there is an easier way forward for us, and the money will go a long way towards affording my daily expenses. Next, we need to make sure that Resorts and Golden Nugget workers don’t get left behind."
The UNITE HERE international labor union represents 300,000 workers throughout North America and has represented workers in the hospitality industry for the last century.
