Casino Workers Union Accuses Revel Entertainment Of Trying To Hire Cheap Labor
By David Madden
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (CBS) - There's a lot of anticipation surrounding the scheduled spring opening of the new Revel casino in Atlantic City. But the city's largest labor union is in no mood to celebrate, contending Revel is trying to hire people on the cheap.
A statement from Revel calls them "defined term positions." Everything from cocktail hostesses to dealers to hotel bellhops will be hired for four to six years, depending on the position. One can move up, transfer to another job, or re-apply when their term runs out.
This is unprecedented in Atlantic City and Local 54, representing thousands at the other casino properties in town, likens the idea to age discrimination.
"They want to treat regular, front line workers as if they're professional athletes, but they want to pay them like they're hot dog vendors," union president Bob McDevitt says.
The union has tried to block some quarter billion dollars worth of state tax incentives over 20 years Revel will receive once it opens for business.
