United Auto Workers to Represent 1,000 employees at Casinos in Atlantic City

Thursday, February 1, 2007, the United Auto Workers Association filed a petition before the National Labor Relations Board in Philadelphia stating their intent to represents the almost 1,000 fulltime and part time workers, cashiers, keno and simulcast staff that are dealing the cards for poker and blackjack in the casinos, taking the wagers that are placed in the simulcast games and presided over keno tables at the Caesar's atlantic city.

If the Union passes all the requirements that are needed to be officially recognized as a Union representative, the next move will be for an election. If there are problems that needed to be fixed, a hearing has already been scheduled for February 12, 2007.

The spokeswoman for Harrah's, which is the owner of Caesar's Atlantic City, Alyce Parker, said that she has not heard any plans for this union drive. Casino employees are the biggest organization of workers in the Atlantic City that are not represented or under any sort of union. According to United Auto Workers International Representative James Moore, who filed the petition, the casino employees have been trying for a number of years now to get some form of representation.

He said that the workers have been trying for a number of years now to get some form of representation. A lot of unions have tried but failed in the end, to organize some form of union by the dealers in Las Vegas. Moore said that they are already expecting to encounter some difficulty from Harrah's Entertainment Incorporated, which also operates three other casinos in Atlantic City.

But he also said that the union efforts are continuing to gather momentum. He added that the main policy of the United Auto Workers is not to file a union petition unless about 60% percent to 65% percent of the employees have already signed on it.

Employees are keen on pushing for issues like 401(k) plans, salaries and their health care. The Caesar's casino currently has 4,132 employees in their establishment, according to the data held by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission. The union has already begun filing the needed documents to the commission, as dictated by the law.

06/13/2007, Wednesday