Atlantic City Casino Says It Will Close If Union Doesn't Relent

The CEO of Trump Entertainment Resorts  said the Trump Taj Mahal will close within a month if the workers’ union doesn’t drop an appeal to save health benefits and pensions for 3,000 workers,

The casino compared the situation to a person beating their partner over the head with a hammer while that person lies in their death bed, according to The Press of Atlantic City.

The Taj Mahal filed a WARN notice with the state in September after its parent company filed for bankruptcy.

UNITE HERE Local 54 has filed an appeal of a federal court’s ruling that the Taj no longer had to pay pensions and health care benefits for workers, according to the report.

Union President Bob McDevitt blames investor Carl Icahn for the Taj’s financial problems by “ripping $350 million out of the company over the last four years,” according to philly.com.

Trump Entertainment is attempting to save the Casino by transferring ownership to Icahn, but have been unable to get city or state officials to provide $175 million in assistance, according to the report.

CEO Robert Griffin puts a lot of the blame on the Union, which he says is costing the company $7 million a month, according to The Press.

McDevitt told philly.com the Union would withdraw its appeal as long as workers would be protected.

The Taj Mahal would be the fifth casino to close this year, following the Revel, the Atlantic Club, the Showboat and Trump Plaza. The closing of the Taj would leave a total of 11,000 casino workers unemployed.