Summary
- Eight of nine casinos will see union contracts expire by the end of the month.
- Employees want to improve finances as the third year of the pandemic takes place.
- The union hopes to move employees towards the middle class.
As the casinos in Atlantic City work towards financial recovery due to the long-running COVID-19 pandemic, employees are hopeful that their wages will increase.
The Unite Here union is currently working on seeing a significant increase in wages for its members. In a report by The Associated Press, union officials stated that talks are underway as union contracts end by May 31.
Obtaining Higher Pay for Casino Employees
The main goal for negotiations is to ensure that employees are able to secure higher pay from their employers. Over the past few years, many casino workers were laid off or lost their jobs completely due to the pandemic. Inflation is now an issue as well with employees hopeful that a raise will help to continue the standard way of living as the cost of purchasing anything continues to increase.
Right now, eight of nine operating casinos in Atlantic City have contracts with the labor union that will end on May 31. Ocean Casino is the only venue that does not have a contract, but the casino operates based on union terms.
Local 54 Unite Here president Bob McDevitt, commented that casino employees are hoping to improve their finances this year, as the effects of the pandemic continue. He said it is the intention of the union to move workers towards the middle class. Many members have already started the push, wearing buttons on the job that say ‘Casino Workers Need A Raise’.
The amount of the raise that the union is asking for is unknown. McDevitt did say that it needs to be enough to allow the employees to keep up with the rising cost of living as well as gain ground and improve their current situation.
Some Have Already Improved Pay for Workers
While the union is seeking a wage increase for employees, there are some that have already done so. McDevitt pointed out that some venues have already increased pay outside the terms of existing union contracts. The payments are around 10% more than the listed pay in contracts.
Hard Rock International is among the casinos that have increased pay. Hard Rock president Joe Lupo commented that they just gave employees a raise before the negotiations began. The casino needed to offer higher wages to attract new employees and ensure they maintain their existing ones.
Ocean Casino is hoping to have a new agreement signed in the coming days and it should include wage increases for employees. Other casinos have yet to comment on what their plans are for workers. For casinos to continue to pull in employees for open positions, the wages will need to be competitive along with benefit options.
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