Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino recently filed a notice with the state to notify authorities of the temporary layoffs that could eventually lead to a loss of 250 permanent jobs.

Layoffs to begin next month

Sunland’s holding company My Way Holdings LLC said that the layoffs could begin as soon as September. The information was included in a letter filed with the state under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. The letter was sent to the state on July 29 and states that the decision could affect 259 positions.

The casino has been closed since mid-March after the COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of non-essential businesses. The letter filed with the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions states that employees of the casino continued to receive their payments till the end of May. The letter was signed by My Way Holding’s general counsel and compliance officer Fred Heinrich.

Temporary furloughs could become permanent

When the casino shut down initially, the furloughs were being considered temporary. The letter suggests that depending on the length of time that the casino and racetrack remain closed, the layoffs could also become permanent. The permanent layoffs could be made around September 30. The 259 positions at risk consist of 34 housekeeping and custodial positions and 35 security officers. The property is set to open its doors after the pandemic, even as tribal casinos- Isleta Resort & Casino and Route 66 Casino Hotel have reopened.

Apart from the casino, the BW Gas and Convenience Holdings LLC and Albuquerque Publishing Co. have also filed layoff notices which will affect 82 other jobs in the state. For Albuquerque, the majority of layoffs, i.e. 44 jobs, come from the pressroom and mailroom section. The company said that the layoffs were a result of unforeseeable business circumstances. BW Gas will be laying off 18 employees on September 26. It plans to eventually close its offices in Clovis and shift its headquarters to Forth Worth in Texas.