No work, no pay for thousands of casino workers

Last Updated on Friday, November 02, 2012 04:26 pm Written by Steve Prisament Friday, November 02, 2012 03:49 pm

ATLANTIC CITY – Casino employees have been losing pay during Hurricane Sandy – with no end in sight.

The gambling industry remained shut Thursday, Nov. 1 for the fifth day awaiting an OK to resume operations that were suspended at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28.

Local 54 of UNITE-HERE President Bob McDevitt said his members are taking a big financial loss.

“They haven’t been out of work long enough for unemployment and the casinos are not going to pay them back,” McDevitt said.

Local 54 Secretary-Treasurer Donna DeCaprio said Thursday that the union was implementing a plan to help members.

“We are in the process of setting up a hurricane relief fund to assist members in this time of need,” DeCaprio said. “We are grateful that the damage was not worse and that our members are safe.  Our prayers go out to all of our members and their families.”

According to DeCaprio, second in command, said the organization has had problems at its S. Sovereign Avenue location here.

“The union hall has suffered significant damage that will take several weeks – possibly months to remedy,” DeCaprio said. “We are making arrangements for temporary space while cleaning and restoration efforts are under way.”

She said interaction with members will begin as soon as the industry gets back in action.

“Once the casinos re-open, union representatives will be onsite at the casino properties communicating with our members,” DeCaprio said. 

The casinos shut down Sunday as then-Hurricane Sandy was headed for landfall on the immediate coast.

New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement spokeswoman Lisa Spengler said reopening will not be considered until Gov. Chris Christie lifts a mandatory evacuation order and safety issues for Atlantic City’s residents and visitors have been addressed.

McDevitt said any delay in reopening is a major issue for his members – many of them are living day to day.

Local 54 UNITE-HERE is the industry’s largest union, representing about 14,000 housekeepers, cocktail servers, cooks, bartenders and other service workers.

Casino Association of New Jersey President Tony Rodio, chief executive officer at Tropicana, has said casinos are collectively losing about $5 million a day in gambling revenue plus millions in hotel, restaurant and retail business.