Workers Say Employers In Ailing Atlantic City Hold All The Cards
Valerie McMorris has served drinks at the Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City, N.J., since it opened 24 years ago.
Casinos have sustained McMorris most of her life; both of her parents worked in casinos, she says. "It just allowed so many people a middle class status."
But McMorris says that's changing. Her pay and benefits have been cut. Her husband lost his job at the Revel, a gleaming $2.4 billion casino that went bust this year.
Four of the city's dozen casinos have closed so far in 2014, eliminating nearly one-tenth of Atlantic City's jobs. Unemployment now stands at nearly 11 percent. And with Trump Taj Mahal set to close next month, another 3,000 casino workers stand to lose their jobs — unless the casino's bankrupt parent company strikes a last-minute deal with its billionaire creditor, Carl Icahn.
McMorris says neighbors and friends are moving elsewhere. She'd like to apply for teaching jobs, "but even teaching jobs in this area, they're hard to find," she says. "Because a lot of people can't afford to live here anymore. So they're moving out of New Jersey."
I'm interviewing McMorris at Burger, a restaurant in the Taj Mahal that now only opens when there are enough customers. These days, that's about once a week. As the city loses gaming clientele to neighboring states, state and local officials are scrambling to try to bring jobs back, by building retail and a new conference center, and repurposing casinos.
Oliver Cooke, an economist at Stockton College, says the city should focus more on growing companies outside hospitality.
He says "the whole point is to somehow kind of move your city or your metropolitan economy, kind of up the value chain. What you hope, of course, to foster is kind of high-wage-led development, as opposed to traditionally low-wage growth."
John Palmieri, executive director of the state's Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, says the city is trying to do just that. "We are fully attuned to the fact that we need to replace the jobs lost with new jobs, but that won't happen overnight," he says.
Palmieri wants to attract higher-paying jobs — "meds and eds, as they say, people who work in hospitals and education. He says the aerospace research park near the city's airport could expand as a tech center.
But he acknowledges that the local workforce, with a low percentage of college graduates, isn't quite ready.
"We have certain distress factors that we deal with," he says. "It's a poorer population. Education's an issue."
So is urban blight. Layoffs and closures have left their mark around the city, with restaurants and businesses boarded up and dark.
As buildings fall into disrepair, the quality of jobs is also eroding, says Paul Smith, a veteran cook at the Taj Mahal. Smith, whose colleagues call him Smitty, is a single father who raised two boys in Atlantic City. Like many others, his main worry is losing health care coverage.
"I need another surgery," Smith says. "Without the benefits, I can't have it."
Last month, the bankruptcy judge approved cuts to work hours and health and pension benefits for Taj Mahal workers. The workers union, Unite Here! Local 54, is appealing the cuts.
Smith, other workers and their union president all say they're fighting to maintain a standard. They worry that any concessions on benefits in a down market like this one would become permanent and would be applied across what remains of the city's casino industry.
"If we do give up our benefits, I mean, I'm not willing to sacrifice the standard for the rest of Atlantic City to change," Smith says. "I would rather this building close."
Trump Entertainment, Taj Mahal's parent, says that if the union fights the cuts, the company will close the casino Dec. 12.
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Transcript
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Unemployment in Atlantic City, New Jersey, is already running at nearly 11 percent. Now, another 3,000 casino workers could soon lose their jobs. Trump Taj Mahal is set to close next month unless the casino's bankrupt parent company strikes a last-minute deal with its billionaire creditor, Carl Ichan. NPR's Yuki Noguchi reports on the difficult prospects for casino workers in a city with a shrinking economy.
YUKI NOGUCHI, BYLINE: Valerie McMorris has served drinks at the Taj Mahal since it opened 24 years ago. Casinos have sustained McMorris most of her life. Both her parents worked in gaming.
VALERIE MCMORRIS: When I was a kid growing up, they both worked in the casino. So, it just allowed so many people a middle class status.
NOGUCHI: She says that's changing. Her pay and benefits have been cut. Her husband lost his job at the Rebel - a gleaming 2.4 billion dollar casino that went bust. Four of the city's dozen casinos have closed so far this year, eliminating nearly a 10th of Atlantic City's jobs. McMorris says neighbors and friends are moving elsewhere. She'd like to apply for teaching jobs.
MCMORRIS: But even teaching jobs in this area - they're hard to find because a lot of people cannot afford to live here anymore. So they're moving out of New Jersey.
NOGUCHI: I am interviewing McMorris at Burger, a restaurant in the Taj Mahal that now only opens when there are enough customers. These days, about once a week. As the city loses gaming clientele to neighboring states, state and local officials are scrambling to try to bring jobs back by building retail and a new conference center and repurposing casinos. Stockton College economist, Oliver Cooke, says the city should focus more on growing companies outside hospitality.
OLIVER COOKE: And, at the end of the day, I mean, the whole point is to somehow, kind of, move your city or your metropolitan economy, kind of, up the value chain. What you hope, of course, to foster is kind of high-wage-led development as opposed to traditionally low wage growth.
NOGUCHI: John Palmieri is executive director of the state's Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. He says the city is trying to do just that.
JOHN PALMIERI: We are fully attuned to the fact that we need to replace the jobs lost with new jobs. But that won't happen overnight.
NOGUCHI: Palmieri wants to attract higher-paying jobs - meds and eds, as they say - people who work in hospitals and education. He says the Aerospace Research park near the city's airport could expand as a tech center. But he acknowledges, with a low percentage of college graduates, the local workforce isn't quite ready.
PALMIERI: We have certain distress factors that we deal with. It's a poor population. Education's an issue.
NOGUCHI: So is urban blight. Layoffs and closures have left their mark around the city. I'm walking along one of the busier streets in Atlantic City. Here's a closed Vietnamese restaurant next to a tattoo parlor and a steakhouse, all boarded up. Paul Smith says as buildings fall into disrepair, the quality of jobs is also eroding. Smith, whose colleagues call him Smitty, is a veteran cook at the Taj Mahal and single father who raised two boys in Atlantic City. Like many others, his main worry is losing healthcare coverage.
PAUL SMITH: I need another surgery. Without the benefits, I can't have it.
NOGUCHI: Last month, the bankruptcy judge approved cuts to work hours and health and pension benefits for Taj Mahal workers. The workers union, Unite Here Local 54, is appealing the cuts. Smith, other workers and their union president all told me, they're fighting to maintain a standard. They worry that any concessions on benefits in a down market like this one, would become permanent and applied across what remains of the city's casino industry. Paul Smith.
SMITH: If we do give up our benefits - I mean, I'm not willing to sacrifice the standard for the rest of Atlantic City to change. I would rather this building close.
NOGUCHI: The Taj Mahal's parent company, Trump Entertainment, says if the union fights the cuts, it will close December 12. Yuki Noguchi. NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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