Atlantic City casino strike averted as workers score new deal

Unite Here Local 54 – the major union for Atlantic City casino workers – reached a new agreement with New Jersey’s top gaming operators just in time for Independence Day. The workers were ready to strike on July 1 for casinos owned by Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts, and on July 3 for Hard Rock Casino.

A provisional agreement has been reached by the MGM-owned Borgata and the Caesars-owned casinos which include Caesars Atlantic City, Harrah’s, and the Tropicana.

Unite Here president Bob McDevitt stated that this is the best deal in the union’s history.

“This is the best contract we’ve ever had,” he said.

“We got everything we wanted and everything we needed. The workers delivered a contract that they can be proud of for years to come.”

Details of the new agreement were not disclosed, but the union leaders seem excited about the new offer.

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Under the previous agreement, union members were paid $16 per hour. Due to the post-pandemic inflation, which resulted in huge hikes in gas prices and other living costs, the pay was no longer enough.

Harrah’s housekeeper Ronnette Lark, who has worked for over 23 years at the casino, couldn’t hold in her joy.

“I’m super excited,” she said.

“I’ve been here 24 years and we’ve never gotten a raise like this. We got big raises.”

The MGM and Caesars casinos can now focus on the 4th of July weekend, which is one of the busiest periods of the year in Atlantic City. Workers are expected to see significant increases in their wages after this agreement has been activated.

Late on Saturday, a tentative agreement was reached with Hard Rock Casino workers to avert the planned July 3 strike.

Other casinos in the city had earlier told Unite Here 54 that they would accept the outcome of the agreement reached with MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment. Those casinos include Ocean Casino, Golden Nugget, and Bally’s.