Atlantic City Finds Casino Union Negotiations a Slow Process

If casinos learned to prize their customers and labor and treat both generously, perhaps the casino industry would return to its previous status as "recession-proof."

While unions have made inroads at organizing dealers in Atlantic City, the progress so far at reaching labor contracts with the casinos has gone so slow as to be almost nonexistent. The United Auto Workers won the right to negotiate for dealers at four New Jersey casinos, but talks have proceeded at a snail's pace.

After winning representation elections at Caesars', Tropicana, Bally's, and Trump Plaza, the union has sought to reach goals of higher wages, better health care, more job security, and increases in full-time hires. Talks have been underway with Caesars' for over a year. Bally's and Trump Plaza have yet to begin negotiations, while Tropicana ownership is in a state of flux.

The casinos and the union have agreed to keep discussions private and not negotiate through the media; but, even though labor experts say the process takes quite a bit of time in most circumstances, employees who celebrated the organization of labor now wonder when benefits might be reaped.

Members of the work force pointed out how crucial they are to the operation of the casinos, and mention how easily the companies found money to invest millions in consultants and lobbyists to oppose the union. Management responded by noting the precarious financial situation in Atlantic City, with revenue downturn consistent over the last year.

Also leaving an air of uncertainty is the looming smoking ban, a ridiculous law likely to be ratified by the City Council Wednesday, and scheduled to go into effect October 15th. Casino operators predict further losses once the new policy is enacted.

Still, it seems casino management is afflicted with a common infection of corporate America: the undervaluing of labor in the naturally symbiotic relationship between management and its workers. If employees in this trillion dollar industry were treated well in the first place, unions would not be making inroads in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and at casinos nationwide. 

Corporate greed requires that the value of property and physical structures be placed at a premium, while employees be treated as disposable, easily replaced numbers rather than as valued components in the success of the business. Accountants who canot tell a double down from a pat hand make decisions to try and throttle a few pennies from dealers, while the company rakes in billions.

If casinos learned to prize their customers and labor and treat both generously, perhaps the casino industry would return to its previous status as "recession-proof."