Thousands of workers strike at seven Atlantic City casinos

John Curran

Friday, Oct. 1, 2004 | 10:39 a.m.

ATLANTIC CITY -- About 10,000 cocktail waitresses, housekeepers and other casino employees went on strike today, but slot machines kept whirring as gambling workers stayed on the job.

Members of Local 54 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees union marched outside casinos chanting "no contract, no peace," and carrying signs that said "on strike." No arrests or violence were reported.

The workers -- bell captains to bartenders, pastry chefs to porters -- have been without a contract since their five-year deal expired Sept. 15. They had promised to walk out today unless a new agreement was reached.

Seven of the city's dozen casinos were affected, with restaurants closing and executives taking over menial tasks.

Denise Kelly and her boyfriend were drinking beer and playing slot machines at Bally's Atlantic City at 6 a.m. when their cocktail waitress quit mid-shift.

"She says, 'This is your last beer 'cause we're going on strike. Bye,' " said Kelly, 31, of Long Beach, N.Y.

The union, which represents about 17,000 area workers, is objecting to casino subcontracting of space for restaurants and bars without requiring them to use union workers.

Bartender Kamal Sabbagh, 43, was among hundreds marching outside Caesars Atlantic City.

"We'd like to go back as soon as possible, but not without obtaining our goals," he said. "We mean business, 100 percent."

Besides Bally's and Caesars, the other affected casinos were Harrah's Atlantic City, Showboat Hotel-Casino, the Atlantic City Hilton, Resorts Atlantic City, and the Tropicana Casino and Resort.

Union negotiators reached an agreement late Thursday with Trump Hotel & Casino Resorts, averting a strike at Trump Taj Mahal, Trump Marina and Trump Plaza.

Two casinos that forged separate union agreements were unaffected.

Some garages complained that picketers were blocking entrances.

Dozens of ironworkers handling renovations of the Ocean One pier across the boardwalk from Caesars said they would respect the casino workers' picket lines and not report to work today.

"We're supporting our brothers. We're union. They're union," said Paul DiGerolamo, 54.