Workers at Trump Taj Mahal, one of the eight casino resorts in Atlantic City, have been striking for fairer health insurance and pension contracts for more than two weeks now. They have up until 5 pm on Monday to decide whether they would accept the latest offer made by the casino’s management.
Trump Taj Mahal barely escaped bankruptcy back in 2014. Last year, the struggling hotel and casino venue was purchased by New York business magnate Carl Icahn. The casino’s new owner has been in a bitter controversy with UNITE HERE Local 54 officials and members since then. Mr. Icahn has even called workers at his property who were looking to have their health and pension benefits restored ‘extortionists.’
Over the past two weeks, striking Trump Taj Mahal workers received an offer from the casino, which management described as one that should be accepted. Given the fact that more than a thousand employees are still striking in front of the facility, the offer in question was not welcomed at all.
Local 54 spokeswoman Diana Hussein has told media that what Trump Taj Mahal was offering its workers was substandard. It was well below what all other casinos in the city offered their employees.
As mentioned above, another offer was placed on the table, one which included restoration of the contributions to people’s health insurance plans. Local 54 members now have up to Monday afternoon to decide whether that one would be accepted. However, union President Bob McDevitt commented that the latest proposal was a “shadow” of what they managed to negotiate with Bally’s, Caesars, Harrah’s, and Tropicana over the past month.
Strikers have to be on the picket line for four hours a day, five days a week, no matter the weather conditions. Mr. McDevitt explained that they have been paid by the union but did not reveal how much exactly. Last week, the strike extended its reach to New York where a number of Local 54 workers rallied in front of Mr. Icahn’s offices.
Ms. Hussein told media that the latest offer has already been voted on by union members. It is still to be seen what is going to happen next and for how long the strike will continue.
