From Las Vegas to Atlantic City, New Jersey, casino workers are banding together to leverage their worth and demand greater compensation from operators. According to Bob McDevitt of Unite Here Local 54, which represents over 10,000 Atlantic City casino employees, current labor discussions will focus on payment rather than future benefits.

Aside from health and retirement, McDevitt says casino employees want to take home more cash. Simply put, Unite Here Local 54 members want to be middle class. McDevitt believes a significant wage raise is long needed, but the demand for competent professionals may change that.

Casino Employees Bargain Hard

However, contracts at eight of the city’s nine casinos expire at the end of the month. There is now a strong incentive for all parties to strike a compromise, especially because the casinos are facing a legal challenge to a PILOT relief law that exempts online gaming and betting income from taxation, as well as a coming indoor smoking ban.

The epidemic has helped casino workers, since they are now in a stronger position to demand meaningful employment conditions. Dealers in Atlantic City make an average of $25/hour, but union representatives believe staff should be paid more. According to Tropicana bartender Janey Negron, the issue is not so much the present pay as the growing standard of life and rising expenses. Casino revenue has been sluggish, making it difficult for employees to demand higher compensation. Last year, AC casinos made $2.55 billion.

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Casinos Approve Workers’ Demands

But things aren’t so awful now. Mr. Lupo thinks that there is little cause for fear. Historically, the city’s casinos and employees have gotten along well, so raising pay shouldn’t be an issue, he says. In reality, Lupo’s casino, Hard Rock Atlantic City, has already increased compensation to retain and recruit employees, especially after many were furloughed in the early months of the pandemic. Negotiations are still underway, so casino employees might expect another raise.