AC workers ready for strike against casinos

September 15

In Atlantic City, the casino employees that voted allow their union to strike, are continuing on as planned. It is reported that some 50 members of Local 54 of the Hotel Employees International Union are still preparing to go forth with their plans to strike.

Last Thursday, the workers' union, comprised of approximately 17,000 members, voted very successfully to allow a strike if a new contract is not reached by today. This comes just 4 days prior to the Miss America Pageant.

If it does happen, this strike stands to impact 11 casinos in the New Jersey City. Local 54 has a contract with the Borgata, but it does not expire until the year 2007.

No real progress has been made this past weekend during talks with such casinos as Harrah's Entertainment, Trump Casinos, and Caesars Entertainment Inc.

The union wants a new three year contract with enhanced benefits, a succession clause, and they want to end subcontracting, which means the leasing of casino space to nonunion companies.

Schedules for picketing are still being set, but union leaders are willing to sign last minute extensions with some of the casinos involved. They are open to discussions with some of the properties, but all of them.

Union members also may try to make there presence felt by walking picket lines before and after their work shifts. The union consists of bartenders, cooks, food servers, housekeepers,  and other various service industry workers.

It is noted that Local 54 had a citywide strike in 1999, it lasted three days and affected much of the city's service industry.