SEARCH NEWS:

 

Tropicana: Vegas Calling Shots for Atlantic City Strike

ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey – As reported by the Press of Atlantic City: "As the casino strike dragged on for a fourth day Monday, both sides continued to snipe at each other and braced for what could be a long walkout.

"Tropicana Casino and Resort, the main target of union enmity, accused Local 54 of Unite Here of coercing its workers into a destructive strike that had more to do with labor issues in Las Vegas than in Atlantic City.

"Tropicana claimed that the union is 'taking orders from a bunch of outsiders from Las Vegas' and has denied workers an opportunity to vote on the casino industry's five-year contract offer.

"…The statement alluded to one of the most contentious issues in the negotiations, the length of the new contract. The casinos have been pushing for a five-year deal, but Local 54 seeks only three years.

"Union leaders want a three-year pact that would coincide with labor agreements for thousands of workers at the casino hotels in Las Vegas and other gaming jurisdictions. Casinos fear that labor agreements that expire simultaneously would give the union the power to authorize a nationwide strike that could cripple the entire industry.

"In its statement, Tropicana contended that Local 54 members in Atlantic City don't care about labor issues in Las Vegas and have been breaking away from the union's leadership.

"…Local 54 President Bob McDevitt scoffed at the allegations, saying the casinos were simply trying to divert attention away from the economic harm the strike has caused for the gaming industry…"

< Gaming News