Still working are the non-union dealers, slot attendants, and valets and security.

On October 8, about 100 strikers blocked the main access road to Atlantic City for about 20 minutes as the busy Columbus Day weekend traffic began flooding into town. Police arrested about 80 of the strikers and gave them tickets for disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic.

The main issues in the strike are contract duration and subcontracting. The union wants a three-year contract that would expire in 2007, the same time as casinos in Las Vegas, Detroit, Chicago, and riverboat casinos nationwide. The owners are pressing for a five-year contract.

“We’re just here to strengthen the union,” said striker Eric Tavarez, who works in Bally’s bake shop. “We’re trying to unite to get a contract to be the same with Las Vegas and the riverboat companies.”

Workers are also arguing that leasing casino space to outside firms undermines the union. They are demanding that any future leasing would include Local 54 members. Tropicana is the main target because it currently has four leased outlets and plans to subcontract large parts of the retail and dining district, The Quarter, when it opens its 11 outlets this fall.

Other issues include maintaining medical benefits, and increasing wages.

“We are here supporting the strike by the union to put pressure on the bosses to keep honoring the clauses that the union enforces so that they do not take away the benefits we have now,” said Jeiky Pimentel.

Atlantic City is a resort city located on Absecon Island, just off the coast of New Jersey. Today nearly 20 percent of its population of 40,500 live below the poverty rate. Five area casinos have already settled with the union. Six of the struck casinos are using replacements to continue operations.  
 
 
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