News

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - The National Labor Relations Board (NRLB) has confirmed an election victory at Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino and certified the UAW as the union chosen by a majority of full- and regular part-time dealers.

"I think it's great," said Trump Plaza Dealer Doug Migliore, of the board's ruling. "We've been trying to get to the bargaining table for over a year. Now we can move forward to get a contract."

The decision, said workers and union officials, will give an added boost to a major labor rally planned for Atlantic City on June 21, when trade unionists, community leaders, and supporters from throughout the tri-state area will demonstrate for a "Fair Deal for All Atlantic City Workers."

"Management's efforts to prevent workers from exercising their legal rights have failed," said UAW President Ron Gettelfinger. "It's way past time for them to come to the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith with the union." Gettelfinger and AFL-CIO President John Sweeney will be among those speaking at the June 21 event.

Information on the rally is available at www.June21ACRally.org.

"The NLRB ruling confirms what we already knew: This was a clean campaign and a clear victory for Trump Plaza dealers," said UAW Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Bunn, who directs the union's Technical, Office and Professional (TOP) Organizing Department.

Dealers at Trump Plaza voted 2-to-1 in favor of forming a union on March 31, 2007. But the company filed objections with the board claiming expressions of support by federal, state and local elected officials during the organizing drive had tainted the representation vote. The boards May 30 ruling upheld an earlier decision by Administrative Law Judge Robert Giannasi, who dismissed all of Trump Plaza's objections to the election and found the vote to be valid and binding.

Joe Ashton, director of UAW Region 9, which includes New Jersey, said the board's decision has further motivated Atlantic City dealers and other casino workers. "The dealers at Trump Plaza and throughout Atlantic City are geared up and moving ahead, and we're looking forward to a terrific event on June 21.

"We've won six representation votes over the last year, every major board decision, and a first-ever smoking ban to protect the health of casino workers," said Ashton. "Casino management needs to quit the stalling and give workers and families the respect they deserve."

Since March 2007, a majority of casino dealers, dual-rate dealers and other workers at Caesars, Trump Plaza, Bally's and Tropicana in Atlantic City have voted in favor of UAW representation. Bargaining is under way at Caesars and Tropicana; the union at Bally's has just been certified by the NLRB.

The UAW, one of the nation's largest and most diverse labor unions, represents more than 8,500 gaming employees in Detroit, Atlantic City, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Indiana.

http://www.uaw.org/news/newsarticle.cfm?ArtId=487