Casino workers' union calls on gaming companies to pay employees during COVID-19 shutdown

Thursday morning, union leaders representing casino and hospitality workers across the US held a virtual press conference demanding casinos pay workers through the coronavirus pandemic.

Unite Here, the labor union representing more than 300,000 workers in the United States and Canada, including more than 10,000 people in Atlantic City, said casinos have an obligation to take care of their out-of-work employees. The decision to pay workers is company-specific, but the union believes this to be an industry-wide issue.

In March, Gov. Steve Sisolak ordered a shutdown of all non-essential businesses including casinos. The closure impacting thousands of casino workers across the state of Nevada. Unite Here representatives from New Orleans and Atlantic City also joined the video call expressing similar concerns at casinos in their cities.

“We think, without a doubt, the gaming industry ... should actually pay for people during the shutdown,” said Donald “D.” Taylor, president of Unite Here International, as reported by The Press of Atlantic City. “We think, without any question, this industry, which is a privileged license — not like a normal business, this is a privileged license — that both the states should insist that they pay people through the shutdown and, frankly, the conscience of these casinos should do the same thing.”

Taylor said the casino operators who have free cash flow should pay workers and those that do not should use the available government loan opportunities to retain workers. He said it was unfair to taxpayers to pay unemployment benefits for out-of-work casino employees when the gaming companies report billions in annual profits.

Unite Here Local 54 President Bob McDevitt said the union has “always worked to support the industry” in Atlantic City. He said workers were grateful for the paid compensation they received when the industry was forced to close, but that income can only last so long.

Eight of the nine Atlantic City casinos paid workers for two weeks following the March 16 shutdown order by Gov. Phil Murphy. One company, Eldorado Resorts, parent operator of Tropicana Atlantic City, paid employees for four weeks. All of the properties extended health benefits for workers, but that grace period has expired for some. “There is absolutely no excuse for an industry that has done quite well in Atlantic City to turn their backs on these workers,” McDevitt said.

More than 60,000 Unite Here union members in Las Vegas are impacted. Union representatives say Wynn Resorts is the only company that agreed to Unite Here's proposal of paying all union members, including hourly and part-time employees, at least a full month’s pay. The company is paying all staff working at their Las Vegas and Boston properties through May 15.

Debra Jeffries, a union member who says she’s worked for the casinos for more than 40 years says many union members have not gotten access to unemployment pay or benefits and only received closing pay of 2 weeks. "This is not going to sustain us, we need to feed our families we need to put food on the table,” said Jeffries, asking the casino to not leave their employees behind.

Stations Casinos recently announced they would be paying full time and salaried employees through May 15th. Some casinos are offering health benefits through June 30th.