Tropicana Dealers Authorize Strike

by James Parks, Mar 2, 2009

For 18 months, casino dealers and slot technicians at the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City have tried to negotiate their first union contract with management to no avail. Frustrated by management’s stalling tactics and unilateral changes in their health care plan, the workers voted overwhelmingly to strike if they are unable to reach agreement.

Over the weekend, 97 percent of dealers voted to authorize a strike. Earlier last month, 91 percent of the slot technicians also voted to strike if a deal is not reached. More than 800 full- and part-time Tropicana dealers, voted to join the UAW/AC Dealers Union in August 2007.

The workers say they just want a fair deal. Says dealer Ernestine Dawkins:

We know these are hard times for Tropicana and for all the casinos. We’re not asking for the moon. We just want a fair agreement—that’s why we voted for our union in the first place.

Dealer Al Welenc agrees:

Waiting 18 months to get a contract, that’s just unacceptable. We certainly hope a strike isn’t necessary, but our members sent a very clear message today: It’s time for management to quit stalling and meet us halfway at the bargaining table.

The UAW/AC Dealers union has filed several unfair labor practice charges against the temporary management of Tropicana, saying the casino has illegally disciplined employees, failed to bargain in good faith and illegally changed the terms of the employee health care plan without first bargaining with the union.

Management-ordered increases in insurance premiums are scheduled to go into effect March 15. A typical Tropicana casino dealer eligible for family coverage could pay as much as $1,300 per year in increased premiums.

Under the Employee Free Choice Act, the workers would have a contract by now. The proposed legislation would allow either side to request federal mediation if they cannot agree on a deal after 90 days. After 30 days of mediation, if there is still no agreement, the dispute would be referred to binding arbitration.

Although the strike authorization does not include a specific deadline, UAW Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Bunn says “the deadline is now—right now.”

Every day of delay in reaching a first contract is a day that workers at Tropicana are without the representation they voted for in 2007. That’s wrong—and our union is going to stand behind AC Dealers to make it right.

Tropicana Casino and Resort is currently being run by former New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Gary Stein, who was appointed as conservator in December 2007, when the previous management lost its casino license. Stein is being paid $600 per hour for his services as conservator, yet workers say they cannot get a decent raise.

Here’s Joe Ashton, director of UAW Region 9:

It’s outrageous that Judge Stein is collecting huge executive paychecks, but refusing to deal fairly with workers who are struggling to pay their bills. We’ve got good proposals on the table and we’re ready to meet at any time. There’s no reason whatsoever for any further delay.

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