A week down, and who knows how much longer to go.
Striking Trump Taj Mahal workers continue to demonstrate on the
Atlantic City boardwalk, energized by presumptive Democratic presidential
nominee Hillary Clinton's visit to the struggling Shore
resort.
Approximately 1,000 members of the UNITE HERE Local 54
began picketing last Friday, calling for the Carl Icahn-owned Trump Taj Mahal to reach a deal with workers that
includes better health and pension benefits.
As demonstrations continued through the July 4th holiday
weekend, the attention turned to Donald Trump, the likely GOP candidate for
president.
Critics painted a picture that drew similarities between
Trump, the casino's former owner, and current owner Icahn.
Clinton capitalized on the momentum generated by the
picket lines, question Trump's business record in Atlantic City on Wednesday
from outside the shuttered Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino.
The visit gave union leaders another chance to swipe at
Trump and Icahn, criticizing many of the decisions the two made with A.C.'s
casinos.
"Donald Trump and Carl Icahn have done everything they can to suck
money out of the property at the expense of the people who do the work,"
said Bob McDevitt, Local 54 president. (Here's a link to his full statement.)
Trump Taj Mahal has continued to operate throughout the
strike 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
No comments:
Post a Comment