Atlantic City casino workers reach agreement with Resorts, only Golden Nugget's deal pending

After weeks of negotiations, it was confirmed on Wednesday that Resorts has reached an agreement with Atlantic City's casino workers union, Local 54 of the Unite Here, thus leaving only one of the destination's nine casinos without a new labor agreement. 

Golden Nugget, the remaining property, will sit down at the bargaining table Thursday with the union, and a deal is expected to be reached during that negotiation. Should a contract not be reached, a strike has been authorized by the union for July 30. 

THE VOTES ARE IN: Hundreds of casino workers cast ballots today and 97% have voted in favor of authorizing the worker bargaining committee to call a strike if an agreement is not reached with Golden Nugget and Resorts by July 30th! pic.twitter.com/lgHt6BkqWW

— UNITE HERE Local 54 (@UHLocal54) July 19, 2022

Resorts agreed to the same economic terms as the city's larger casinos did several weeks ago, according to union president Bob McDevitt. Housekeeping employees will see their pay increase to $22 per hour at the end of the four-year contract.

Resorts President Mark Giannantonio deemed this to be "a great deal", and added that the casino is "thrilled" for the employees. "They've been working really hard for us, and now we're happy as we can put this behind us and move forward with our business," he said, according to Associated Press.

In addition to raises, the agreements reached with the casinos maintain fully funded family health care and pension benefits, language that protects jobs and increases work opportunities, and new technology protections, the union said.

More than 9,000 workers across the board have received pay raises in the deals reached with managers at the Borgata, Caesars, Hard Rock, Harrah’s and Tropicana. Workers at Bally’s and Ocean Casino Resort are also covered by the deal through “me-too agreements” the union has accepted. About 99% of workers who voted in ratification elections approved the new pacts.

In past contracts, the union focused on preserving health care and pension benefits, but this time sought “significant” pay raises for workers to help them keep pace with prices for gasoline, food, rent and other living expenses.