Union authorizes strike against Trump Taj Mahal

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Workers at Trump Taj Mahal have authorized a strike against the troubled Atlantic City casino.

Members of UNITE HERE Local 54, which represents nearly 1,000 service workers including bartenders, cooks, housekeepers and bellmen voted Thursday to allow the union's negotiating committee to call a strike. The union does not represent casino dealers.

The union's last contract expired in September 2014.

Trump Entertainment Resorts owns the property now, but lender Carl Icahn is taking ownership as it comes out of bankruptcy. Last year, the casino ended pension and health insurance for its unionized workers. That decision has been the center of litigation.

Icahn has said he'll cut of funding and close the casino if courts force it to restore the benefits.