The saga of the Atlantic City- based Taj Mahal casino continues but this time the casino workers play a key role in the latest events. It has became known recently that Taj Mahal is going to close within less than a month unless some compromises are made and the closure is avoided.
Casino employees are planning to organize a protest and block the traffic on a major transport hub in Atlantic City. They have taken such a draconian measure because of the proposal that intends to cut their health and pension benefits. Although these actions are taken towards saving the casino, the workers are not going to cancel the protest. They will block the traffic on Wednesday anyway.
The organizers of the protest expect members of their association to have issues with the police authorities and even be arrested because the protest actions will most probably be regarded as a violation of the civil rules.
Taj Mahal will be the next casino to close in Atlantic City unless the employees settle down around the idea of making compromises such as giving up on their health and pension benefits. In addition, the authorities demand a tax relief and financial aid equal to $25 million.
The billionaire Carl Icahn invested a considerable sum of money but he also announced his own requirements. If they are met, he would consider turning the casino debt into an ownership.
Bob McDevitt, a president of the union, commented that Trump Entertainment should now be regarded as a proxy for Icahn. It is a well known fact that he owns another casino in the region – Tropicana. Nevertheless, an agreement for extending the union contract with a few more months might not be signed.
He also added that the main purpose of the protest is to show that the workers have their own requirements and they are going to fight for the rights and benefits Taj Mahal used to ensure them with.
McDevitt also said that, Tropicana’s authorities have decided not to extend the contract with the union while some other operators allowed a 6-month period for solving all the delicate issues that occurred during the summer.
At the beginning of the year, there were 12 operating casinos within Atlantic City and 4 of them have already filed for bankruptcy. Although the new owners of Revel Casino plan to reopen it soon, for the time being, Taj Mahal might be the fifth casino that closes doors for players.
Icahn claimed that he had saved Tropicana from bankruptcy and the president of the casino confirmed that the during the time when Icahn was the owner, the venue gained share market and provided the residents with more job opportunities.
Paul Smith, who has been working as a cook in Taj Mahal for more than two decades, didn’t hesitate to express his standpoint. He said that he and his co-workers are absolutely determined to fight for their benefits. He also shared that his health is not particularly good and the lack of health insurance will make it hard for him to make ends meet, pay the medical costs and ensure an appropriate living standard for himself and his children.
