Trump Taj Mahal strike enters day 5 with no sign of stopping

The picket lines outside of the Carl Icahn-owned Trump Taj Mahal are continuing for the fifth straight day as union leaders say they are no closer to reaching a deal with the casino than they were Friday when the strike began.

Roughly 1,000 members of the UNITE HERE Local 54 walked off the job Friday after talks broke down between the union and Taj Mahal, the only Atlantic City casino unable to come to terms with the group before the strike deadline.

The Press of Atlantic City reported there are no negotiations scheduled between the two sides for Tuesday, indicating the demonstration will continue on beyond the July 4th holiday weekend.

UNITE HERE members, wearing bright red T-shirts, were on the Atlantic City boardwalk throughout the long weekend and pledged to continue the demonstration Tuesday.

The union posted updates on Facebook and Twitter, asking followers to sign a petition on their behalf while picketers were outside the Taj Mahal calling for an end to Icahn's "tyranny," according to the Associated Press.

Icahn did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But when the strike began, his management team noted that Icahn had spent $86 million keeping the Taj Mahal afloat during bankruptcy "when no one else was willing to invest even $1."

The benefit cuts were made in October 2014 by previous owner Trump Entertainment Resorts. Though he did not own the casino yet, Icahn had acquired most of the company's outstanding debt and was financing it during bankruptcy.

The casino continued operations over the holiday weekend with supervisors carrying guests bags while other Taj Mahal workers had their job duties shifted to accommodate guests.

Tentative agreements were reached with Bally's Atlantic City Hotel and Casino, Caesars Atlantic City Hotel and Casino, and Harrah's Resort Atlantic City – all owned by Caesars Entertainment – early Thursday.

Hours later, UNITE HERE and the Tropicana Casino came to terms on a tentative deal. Like Taj Mahal, Tropicana is also owned by Icahn.

Three other Atlantic City casinos – Borgata, Resorts and the Golden Nugget – were not a part of the union's strike threat, issued earlier this month.

The Associated Press previously said the last time casino workers walked out in 2004, the strike lasted 34 days.

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal