Taj Mahal casino workers prepared to go out on strike

Unionized workers at the Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City have voted to authorize a strike.

The strike vote comes after workers’ health and pension benefits were eliminated last year, and as the casino struggles to emerge from bankruptcy.

UNITE HERE Local 54 president Bob McDevitt said workers have grown increasingly upset over how casino management has treated them.

“In the words of Fanny Lou Hamer … they’re sick and tired of being sick and tired. And they’ve had it,” he said.

Although Trump Entertainment Resorts currently owns the property, billionaire creditor Carl Icahn is taking ownership to try to make the casino solvent again.

Management said the casino may have to shut its doors without concessions from workers, but McDevitt called that argument weak.

“If all any boss had to do was say ‘Well, if you get to keep what you have, we’re gonna shut the doors,’ then that would be a pretty powerful tool for any boss in the country,” he said.

“The only people that are going to make the decision on whether or not the Taj Mahal closes are Carl Icahn and his little group of henchmen.”

In response to the strike vote, Trump Entertainment Resorts issued a statement that “it is unfortunate that the union would jeopardize employees’ wages and tips during a peak income period” by threatening to strike.

The company said it had a contingency plan in the event of a work stoppage.

McDevitt said the union would meet early next week to discuss the details of a possible strike.