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Two Atlantic City Casino Picketers Fired

ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey – As reported by the Associated Press: "A striking casino-hotel worker who suffered a broken kneecap in a picket line confrontation with security guards has been fired for "strike-related misconduct" along with a fellow striker, officials said Thursday.

"Bally's Atlantic City busperson Alberto Camilo Pena, 43, and Bally's utility porter Santos DeJesus, 56, said their firings stemmed from an incident in front of the casino in which Pena was thrown to the ground and handcuffed by security guards working for Bally's.

"Both strikers said they did nothing wrong and one union chief called the guards 'thugs.'

"'It was a hired agency brought in from out of town to intimidate, brutalize and harass members of the union who've been picketing peacefully for two weeks,' said Robert McDevitt, president of Local 54 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees union.

"…The strikers said they were outside Bally's Atlantic City on Sunday when guards with video cameras surrounded DeJesus for no reason, filming him as he picketed.

"Pena began running from the strike line to summon a Local 54 strike captain when he was knocked to the pavement, handcuffed and taken inside the casino, where he was held for about 20 minutes, the Spanish-speaking worker said through an interpreter Thursday.

"…Pena was taken to Atlantic City Medical Center, where he was diagnosed with a fractured patella, according to a copy of the discharge instructions he was given at the hospital, which were released by union officials.

"…Pena and DeJesus said they never struck anyone or did anything improper to provoke them.

"…Pena, a father of three and 14-year employee who McDevitt said had a spotless record, was notified of his termination in a notice dated Tuesday…"

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