The height of the 2009 tourism season in Atlantic City runs from April through October no matter what the weather might throw at the region. Atlantic City enjoys such a long tourism season because of its many casinos. The tourism season in 2009 was full of strife though. The United Auto Workers were constantly protesting on the Atlantic City boardwalk in support of the casino dealers and other staff members who were working without a contract. The United Auto Workers won their first election in Atlantic City back in March of 2007. Dealers in the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino and Bally’s Atlantic City voted to organize in 2007 and the officials at these two casinos have decided to appeal the vote. The other two casinos where dealers voted to organize the Caesar’s Atlantic City and Tropicana Casino and Resort.

Israel Posner, the executive director for Gaming Management at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey had this to say about the situation:

“I think everyone realizes that unless we hang together, we’ll surely hang separately.”

Alyce Parker had the following to say about the situation:

“We are focused on negotiating an agreement that is fair to all of our employees and allows us to remain competitive in this difficult economic environment and with increasing entertainment and gaming options in neighboring states. It is unfortunate that the UAW has focused much of our discussion on interim bargaining issues, such as company-wide changes to the pharmacy plan, rather than longer-term issues that would define our working relationship.”

The negotiations are going to be incredibly difficult, especially for the dealers, explains Posner:

“It’s very different when you’re management and you’re negotiating with a room attendant who’s maybe making $11 an hour versus a dealer who is being paid $8 an hour but is making closer to $20 an hour or more.”

The following is a list of key dates for the United Auto Workers in Atlantic City:

November 2006: Organizing efforts begin.

March 2007: Union wins certification to represent the dealers at Caesars Atlantic City and Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino.

June 2007: Dealers vote to organize at Bally’s Atlantic City.

August 2007: Dealers vote to organize at Tropicana Casino and Resort.

October 2007: Slot technicians vote to organize at Tropicana.

January 2008: Caesars and Tropicana begin to bargain with UAW.

July 2009: Dealers at Caesars and Bally’s authorize a strike with no date set.

September 2009: A petition to decertify the UAW is rejected.

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