ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) - Atlantic City's main casino
workers' union filed 27 unfair labor practice charges against the owners of the
Trump Taj Mahal casino on Tuesday.
The complaints allege the company threatened workers and
unilaterally changed work schedules and rules that cost employees money during
a months-long fight for the future of the casino that continues unabated. Local
54 of the Unite-HERE union has been fighting Trump Entertainment Resorts for
months over working conditions at the casino, which narrowly escaped closing in
December when billionaire investor Carl Icahn put up $20 million to keep it
afloat.
"These charges allege serious violations of federal
labor law, and demonstrate a disregard for the rule of law and basic fairness
at the Taj Mahal," said Bob McDevitt, the union's president. "They
allege that managers threatened and discriminated against workers for union
activity. Additionally, the charges claim the company has unilaterally changed
the rules in ways that have cost our members work and pay, and have disrupted
their lives."
Among the charges filed with the labor board are that the
company fired a union shop steward; attempted to get a union member to spy on
the union to management; tore down union literature and threw it on the floor,
saying, "It's the union's fault that this place is closing," and
unilaterally changed work schedules and rules.
The company declined comment. But billionaire investor
Carl Icahn, who is acquiring Trump Entertainment by swapping $286 million in
debt for ownership of the company, said last week the work rules are outdated
and unaffordable in the current Atlantic City market, where four of the 12
casinos shut down last year.
A bankruptcy court judge in October allowed Trump
Entertainment to end health insurance and pension coverage for its workers, a
move the union is appealing. Icahn, who wants to shift Taj Mahal workers to
insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act, has threatened to close the
casino if the union wins its appeal.
The labor board filed a brief last week in support of the
union, urging the bankruptcy court judge to reverse his decision, saying it is
not supported by federal labor law.
Tuesday is also the day Revel must respond to a court
order temporarily putting its sale on hold while an appeal by restaurants at
the former casino resort is heard.
Revel is also trying to fight off an attempt by its sole
utility supplier to cut off electricity, heat and water to the building by 5
p.m. Thursday. ACR Energy Partners says it has no other way to ensure Revel
will pay its bills.
Revel wants a judge to fine ACR $10 million, plus $1
million for each day the company withholds utility service. A hearing is
scheduled Thursday morning for that dispute.
The former casino, which cost $2.4 billion to build, was
due to be sold by Feb. 9 to a Florida developer for $95.4 million before the
sale was temporarily blocked.
Source: New
Jersey Herald
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