The Fourth of July represents the birthday of the United States of America. It is celebrated as the day when the U.S. broke from England and became its own country. Workers from the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey, channeled their inner forefathers over the holiday weekend as they continued their strike against the casino, in a battle for benefits and higher wages.
Other nearby casinos including Ceasars, Harrah’s, Bally’s and Tropicana were able to reach a contract agreement before July 1, but workers from the Trump Taj Mahal claim that their wages were too low and that their benefits, including a minimal health plan a continued loss of a pension and no severance benefits or paid meal breaks.
It is believed that as many as 1,000 workers — including bellmen, servers, cooks and housekeepers — walked off the job on Friday, July 1. To address these reductions, between 50 to 150 workers involved in the employment dispute walked two picket lines on the boardwalk in four hour shifts through the night.
Workers believe they are entitled to the increases in wages in benefits as casinos have once again begun to profit. According to a New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement financial report, the Trump Taj Mahal lost $13 million last year, but turned a profit of $269 million in the first quarter of 2016. With an improving economy recovering from the recession, workers believe that their demands are not unreasonable. The management team of Trump Taj Mahal, on the other hand, claims that the workers are trying to close the property.
Source: USA Today, “Strike at Icahn’s Trump Taj Mahal extends to July 4,” Laura Mandaro and Paul Davidson, July 4, 2016
