Trump Plaza Dealers Approve Union

Casino Dealers Vote for Labor Union

Dealers at Trump Plaza in Atlantic City have voted to team up with the United Auto Workers (UAW) to form a labor union at the casino. The landslide vote came through despite last minute objections filed by opponents of the dealers' union.

The battle to form a labor union for dealers at Trump Plaza is finally nearing a final conclusion. Full time dealers and regular part time dealers cast their ballots Saturday and voted 324 to 149 to form the labor union. The two thirds majority vote is beyond what is required to form a union that will give dealers a better negotiations tool when dealing with casino management.

"The election victory is superb news for Trump Plaza dealers and all Atlantic City dealers. Their courage and determination makes us proud to stand with them as they work to make their jobs and their lives better," UAW Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Bunn in a written press release.

Bunn continued on to say, "We look forward to bargaining with Trump Plaza management to secure a great first contract that benefits casino workers and the gaming industry in New Jersey."

The dealers who work at the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino expressed a number of concerns for why they voted for the labor union. According to a UAW statement, concerns by dealers at the Trump Plaza include low pay, meager health benefits, a lack of seniority rights and poor treatment on the job by management. Forming a union could allow the dealers to negotiate better conditions and pay from management at the Trump Plaza.

The union vote was opposed at the last minute by a Virginia group calling itself the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation. The group petitioned the National Labor Board to stop the vote, accusing organizers of unfair labor practices.

In particular, the group claimed that US Representative Robert Andrews had tampered with the election by forming a rally last week to count the signed pledge cards submitted by dealers at Trump Plaza. Andrews has said that the accusations are absurd.