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Exodus at Casino Association9 September 2004ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey – As reported by the Press of Atlantic City: "A day before casino union workers are expected to give labor leaders authorization to call a strike, six casinos sought to protect themselves from the threat Wednesday by leaving the New Jersey Casino Association's bargaining unit. "Subcontracting - the process of leasing casino space to outside companies that are free to hire non-union workers - is the main reason for the split. "The Casino Association is led by Dennis C. Gomes, president of resort operations for Aztar, Tropicana Casino and Resort's owner. The casino has been targeted by Local 54 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union because it plans to subcontract most of the jobs at The Quarter, a retail-entertainment complex, when it opens this fall. "Local 54 has warned that it will not accept further subcontracting of union jobs and late last week officials held a news conference to announce that workers were prepared to take action if the casinos didn't stop the practice. "…Caesars Entertainment Inc. filed separation papers at noon, and five minutes later joined Harrah's in negotiations with Local 54. "Late Wednesday evening, union officials said Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts asked to bargain separately, leaving just Tropicana and Resorts Atlantic City in the association's bargaining unit. "…Officials with the other properties would not discuss specific details of the negotiations and refused to say what prompted the defections. |