For immediate release
June 15, 2016
Madeline Kaye
(646) 200-5297
Diana Hussein
(313) 460-3119
Advisory: Atlantic City Casino Workers to Vote Thursday on Strike Authorization
Workers to Provide Strike Vote Update on Call
**Media Call: Thursday, June 16, 11:30 am**
Thousands of Atlantic City’s gaming workers will vote on Thursday whether or not to authorize a strike at many of the largest casinos in Atlantic City —including Caesars, Bally’s, Harrah’s and Tropicana — joining workers at the Trump Taj Mahal who have already authorized a strike.
Atlantic City’s gaming industry is a $2.5 billion industry. The existing casinos just saw their best year in almost a decade, with operating profit growth of 40% in the last year alone. But during the recession, Atlantic City gaming workers gave back, with many seeing only $.80 in raises over the last twelve years.
Workers and union representatives will host a press call during the day which will provide an update on the ongoing strike vote, and background on what drove them to this point, and will hold a press conference in Atlantic City at the end of the day.
WHAT: Atlantic City Gaming Workers Strike Vote Press Call & AC Press Conference
WHEN: National Press Call: 11:30 AM, Thursday, June 16, 2016
Atlantic City Press Conference: 8:00pm Thursday, June 16, 2016
WHO: Bob McDevitt, President, UNITE HERE Local 54
Atlantic City casino workers
WHERE: 11:30am PRESS CALL DIAL-IN NUMBER: 1-877-691-2551, access code is 42786402
8:00pm PRESS CONFERENCE: Outside Boardwalk Hall, 2301 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ
Background: 6,000 casino workers in Atlantic City are currently working under an expired contract amid a tense standoff with private equity firms and billionaire investors that own five of the city’s eight major casinos. Service workers at the casinos—who earn an average of $11.74 per hour— are frustrated by billionaire private equity investors who swoop in to ostensibly “rescue” businesses but focus instead on squeezing out profits at the expense of working people.
During the recession, Atlantic City gaming workers gave back to help the industry, agreeing to wages freezes and benefit reductions totaling tens of millions of dollars. Workers with 25 years on the job have seen only $.80 in total raises over the last twelve years. Now with the industry on the rebound, casino executives at Caesars Entertainment (owner of Atlantic City’s Caesars, Harrah’s and Bally’s) will be getting up to $50 million bonuses in 2016 while paying gaming workers poverty wages.
At a time when New Jersey is facing an ongoing budget crisis, taxpayers are picking up the tab. Without health benefits, half of workers at the Trump Taj Mahal, for instance, rely on government-subsidized health insurance. A third have no health insurance at all, putting them at risk of bankruptcy in the event of an illness and forcing taxpayers to pay for visits to the ER. Many of the workers rely on other public assistance programs, like food stamps.
It’s time for the Wall Street billionaires to stop playing games with Atlantic City workers and offer a fair contract that keeps workers off welfare and in the middle class.
As they consider going on strike, thousands of gaming workers at Caesars, Bally’s, Harrah’s, Tropicana and the Trump Taj Mahal are taking a stand for the good jobs that Atlantic City and communities across the country sorely need, and for a brighter future for all.