NorthJersey.com: Thousands of Atlantic City casino workers vote to authorize strike starting July 1
Thousands of Atlantic City casino workers voted Thursday to authorize a strike starting July 1 — a date intended to coincide with the peak of tourist season.
Bob McDevitt, president of Local 54 of UNITE HERE!, a union that represents most casino workers, said, “Today thousands of workers from Tropicana, Caesars, Bally’s and Harrah’s voted to authorize a strike on July 1 if they don’t have a fair contract. The vote was 96 percent in favor. We have told the companies that we are available days, evenings, and weekends to negotiate. The ball’s in their court.”
Employees at the Trump Taj Mahal casino voted last year to authorize a strike, and a similar vote Thursday could mean that five of the city’s eight casinos would be affected beginning with the July 4 weekend. Borgata, Resorts and Golden Nugget would not be affected.
About 6,000 workers may go on strike, union officials said, adding that they have an average age of 49 and earn an average wage of $11.74 an hour.