Two casinos set to close may yet find buyers, says leader of Atlantic City union
The president of the casino workers union in Atlantic City said he wants to see two casinos slated to close sold instead to new operators.
The Showboat and Trump Plaza are set to close by the end of September. The newest addition to the Boardwalk, Revel, also is threatened with closure as it goes through its second bankruptcy process.
The head of Unite Here Local 545, Bob McDevitt, worked at Showboat for nine years. Convinced the casinos would be viable under new ownership, McDevitt said he has talked with a party interested in Trump Plaza.
“We know there are buyers out there,” he said.
The three casinos collectively employ more than 8,000 employees. Asked whether any of those employees who may soon be out of a job are thinking about a plan B, McDevitt said all are focused on fighting to keep the casinos open.
However, he said, it’s unlikely that the Atlantic City job market will be able to absorb more than 8,000 people.
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