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Tropicana Sends Open Letter to Union

ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey – (PRESS RELEASE) -- Attached is an open letter to Tropicana employees from Dennis C. Gomes, president of resort operations, Aztar Corp., the parent company of Tropicana Casino and Resort and Pamela J. Popielarski, president and general manager of Tropicana, Atlantic City, NJ.

This letter was sent on September 19, 2004 to Bob McDevitt, president of Local 54, and distributed to all Tropicana employees on September 20, 2004. In the letter, Mr. Gomes and Ms. Popielarski request a meeting with Mr. McDevitt to discuss the latest negotiations between Tropicana and Local 54.

September 20, 2004

Sent by Fax

Robert McDevitt

President

H.E.R.E. Local 54

203-205 North Sovereign Avenue

Atlantic City, NJ 08401

Dear Bob:

There is no need to wait until September 30 for Local 54 and the Tropicana to settle this contract.

We challenge you to sit down at the bargaining table with the Tropicana to reach an agreement right now for the benefit of Tropicana's employees and the Tropicana. We are ready to meet and to bargain around the clock.

We challenge you to give the Tropicana's employees who are members of Local 54 the right to be heard about their future. Give them a voice in these negotiations and the right to be the only ones who vote on their own contract.

We challenge you to stop telling everyone that Tropicana is Local 54's target. This is a direct attack on our employees - your members. Stop avoiding Tropicana's requests for meetings and start listening to the Tropicana's employees. This is what our employees are saying:

1. They do not want to strike!

2. They want to vote on their own contract by themselves!

3. They want to keep their medical coverage without any payroll deductions for 5 years not 3 years!

4. They want Local 54 to tell them the truth. The truth is that when Local 54 said that there will be only one economic settlement for all the casinos, the Tropicana agreed to accept that settlement, whatever it is, for our employees.

5. They do not care if the Tropicana leases space to restaurants and they want Local 54 to accept job guarantees for all food and beverage employees for 5 years not 3 years!

6. They want The Quarter to open now as planned. They want to be a part of Tropicana's future success, and they want Local 54's leadership to stop singling out Tropicana and its employees for its attacks!

YOU HAVE GOT OUR CHALLENGE - WE WILL WAIT FOR YOUR CALL!

Sincerely,

Dennis C. Gomes

President, Resort Operations

Aztar Corporation

Pamela J. Popielarski

President and General Manager

Tropicana Casino and Resort

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