Atlantic City’s main casino workers’ union reached an agreement Saturday with the Hard Rock Casino, ending the latest strike threat during the busy holiday weekend. Local 54 of the Unite Here union said it had reached a tentative agreement, avoiding a strike that had been threatened for 12:01 a.m. of Sunday. The union had reached tentative agreements Thursday with the Borgata, which is owned by MGM Resorts International, and three Caesars Entertainment casinos: Caesars, Harrah’s and Tropicana. Clouds pass behind the guitar sculpture at the entrance to the Hard Rock Casino in Atlantic City, NJ, on June 28, 2022. On Saturday, July 2, 2022, Hard Rock reached an agreement with the main union of Atlantic City casino workers, ending the latest features ((AP Photo/Wayne Parry) / AP Newsroom) Resorts and the Golden Nugget are two casinos that do not yet have a contract, but the association said it expects both to agree on one in the coming days. ATLANTIC CITY AVOIDS CASINO STRIKE WITH LAST-MINUTE STRUGGLE Bally’s and Ocean Casino Resort signed so-called “me-too” agreements in which they commit to adopting the terms of the association’s contracts with the major casinos. Clouds pass behind the Hard Rock Casino in Atlantic City, NJ ((AP Photo/Wayne Parry) / AP Newsroom) The deals still need to be ratified by the union’s full membership. MGM RESORTS OFFERS $607M FOR SWEDISH ONLINE GAMBLING COMPANY “We are extremely pleased to have once again been able to reach a successful settlement with Unite Here Local 54 to increase the wages and benefits our team members deserve,” said Jim Allen, president of Hard Rock International. “We look forward to further expanding this great relationship both nationally and locally as we expand our iconic brand.” A roulette game in progress at the Hard Rock Casino in Atlantic City NJ (AP Photo/Wayne Parry/AP Newsroom) The union had said it was seeking “significant” pay rises new contracts to help workers keep pace with skyrocketing prices for gas, food, rent and other expenses. ATLANTIC CITY 2021 CASINO WINS EXCEEDING PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS Terms of the contract were not immediately released. Ticker Security Last change %BALY TWIN RIVER WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS INC. 20.22 +0.44 +2.22%MGM MGM RESORTS INTERNATIONAL 30.00 +1.05 +3.63%CZR CAESARS +302% ENTERTAINMENT. The agreements not only avoid what would have been a costly and disruptive strike during one of the busiest weekends of the year for casinos, but provide labor peace in the critical third summer of the coronavirus pandemic as casinos struggle to return to business. revenue and profit levels they enjoyed before it started. The deals averted what would have been the city’s first casino strike since 2016. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
