What do the United Auto Workers and casinos in Atlantic City have in common? Believe it or not, they have a lot in common. Dealers in four casinos voted in 2007, by a 97 percent margin, to join the union.
The union workers report that they do not have a fair contract for members working for Caesar’s Casino, Bally’s, Tropicana, and Trump Plaza; in fact, they have no contract whatsoever. These casinos have never negotiated or approved a contract to this date and now their health and retirement benefits have been cut along with the amount of hours they work. Interestingly enough, it seems the executives of these casinos received bonuses. About 150 members of the union held an informational picket in front of Caesar’s Casino on Friday night (7/24/09) along with four dozen cars that circled the casino again and again.
Owners of the casinos in question blame the UAW with an agenda that could hurt all employees in Atlantic City. With revenues down, the pickets could turn patrons away. They also say that they cannot afford to pay better benefits or salaries and are already trapped. They might have to start laying off more employees if this goes any further.
Bally’s has refused to negotiate and is appealing the ruling from the Federal Labor Board to meet. Caesar’s is negotiating and has been for about 18 months. Bally’s and Tropicana dealers as well as Caesar’s slot technicians voted to authorize a strike, but no walkout has been set as of yet. UAW is doing all it can to avoid a walk out but have come up against a brick wall. Some of the casinos have said they will replace dealers and slot technicians with temporary workers and have developed contingency plans for hiring. They say they won’t start hiring unless the current workers walk off the job. There are about 3000 jobs that would be affected in Atlantic City.
The UAW is requesting better wages, health benefits, and security for their jobs. Workers complain that the casinos have stopped the match in their 401-K accounts; they have either cut benefits or made employees pay more for them. Layoffs have also been prevalent. There have been negotiations but casinos want to do what is “economically feasible” in their eyes and they want the pickets to stop.
No one knows if the strike will really happen or not. It is a matter of who will give in first, the UAW or the angry employees of the casino. It is a nasty fight for the recognition of rights. New employees have been contacted to start working if all the current employees go on strike. This is not a good situation for the current employees because those going on strike will not cause a single hiccup in the profits of the casino.
Picketers plan to gather again on Saturday. Employees are still on the job as this is just an informational picket at this time.
Related posts:
No user commented in " Similarity of Atlantic City and the United Auto Workers "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackLeave A Reply