Saturday, August 6, 2016

Taj Mahal picketers in Trenton to call for unemployment benefits for striking workers



The day Trump Taj Mahal workers' strike hits the month-mark, dozens of the picketing employees will be joined by several New Jersey legislators to voice their support of a bill that would offer unemployment benefits after 30 days on strike.

The group will be on the State House steps in Trenton Monday afternoon, according to Press of Atlantic City.


While about 100 workers will travel to New Jersey's capital, other members of the UNITE HERE Local 54 union will remain in Atlantic City to continue their round-the-clock demonstration outside the Trump Taj Mahal casino and hotel.

The approximately 1,000 Taj Mahal employees went on strike as the Fourth of July holiday weekend began. The casino, owned by Carl Icahn, as well as four others were warned of a possible strike. Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel and Casino, Harrah’sResort Atlantic City, Caesars Atlantic City Hotel and Casino, and the Tropicana Casino, which is also owned by Icahn, came to terms with the union and avoided a strike.

The union has been battling the 80-year-old activist investor for better health and pension benefits, which Icahn has said is not financially doable at this time because the casino's bankruptcy is still in the rear-view mirror.

The striking workers, however, are unsatisfied with that reasoning. One union member told the Philadelphia Business Journal last week that if Icahn could come to terms with workers at Tropicana, he should be able to reach a similar agreement at Trump Taj Mahal.

Along with its demonstrations in A.C., local 54 has brought its message to Icahn's Manhattan offices and to the Democratic National Convention– all the while comparing the billionaire casino owner with GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump.

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