A labor dispute between the former employees of the Trump Taj Mahal and Trump Entertainment has been settled with payments made to those who were stiffed by the brand. 944 employees of the casino received settlement checks this week, with each individual being paid $850.76. The payments were made close to two years after the former owner Carl Icahn closed the hotel and casino in New Jersey and right after the venue opened anew as the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.
The checks are the result of a dispute that began back in 2014 when employee benefits were cut dramatically. Unite Here Local 54 eventually settled with Trump Entertainment, for a total sum of $1 million. Many members of the former casino were sought out by Hard Rock International as they prepared to open the new gaming venue on the Boardwalk.
In summer of 2016, around 1,000 employees of the former Taj Mahal Casino went on strike, angered by the cut of health and pension benefits by Icahn. The group was created from cooks, customer service and housekeepers of the venue. Employees left their positions when Icahn did not provide the benefits that the employees lost after the venue shut down in 2014.
The strike began in July 2016 and by October, Icahn had chosen to shut the venue down. After being on the market for some time, Hard Rock International decided to give it a go and set out to acquire the property. After opening in late June, the Hard rock has revitalized the area, providing employment opportunities for individuals in the region, particularly former employees of the Trump Taj Mahal.
The payments made to former Taj employees brings an end to a super long battle between the casino employees and Trump Entertainment. Those who received payment are pleased that the money comes from Icahn’s pocket, as he continued to refuse to meet employee demands for basic health care and pension options.
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