Being against casinos is not being against people
jsunshower
| Mon, Jul 14, 2014 7:22 AM EST
Being against casinos is not being against people in the service industry, or
unions, nor job creation.
Wherever casinos are built, the way they operate sucks tourism that was widely spread among local businesses to feed the mega-corporation. Very different from building other entertainment venues that attract people who will also shop at other neighborhood businesses.
“But what about jobs, the drum-beat casino proponents tout as their best argument? Casino workers’ unions across the country are embroiled in labor fights with casino owners, fighting for fair pay and even to keep what little they receive in tips. Last year, hundreds of employees quit just days after the opening of Cleveland’s new Horseshoe Casino, outraged at their excessive hours and low pay.” from article by Steve Holt in Universal Hub 3/06/2013 Here’s the Cleveland article :http://www.clevescene.com/…/lots-of-people-already-quitting
More info on negative effects for everyone in a community: http://imshttp.rapv.com/documents/CasinoResearch-NAR.pdf
Buried in the middle of the A-section of today’s Sunday Globe is a clear demonstration of the rest of the story about casino gambling and labor. The glimpse into the future proponents would have us create is equally compelling.
First, the facts (emphasis mine):
First, the facts (emphasis mine):
Some of us have argued here that casinos = jobs, and a significant number of Massachusetts residents seem receptive. I therefore offer the following dose of hard-nosed current reality, this time from Atlantic City today (emphasis mine):
In short:
1. The casino industry is collapsing, especially in Atlantic City
2. When the collapse happens, it happens at catastrophic speed
3. The true equation for labor in Atlantic City today is “Casinos = Unemployed” — to the tune of SEVEN THOUSAND union workers.
4. The very first step of organized labor as the predicted collapse unfolds is to demand “help” from the state.
In my view, this is the real story of casino gambling today. Massachusetts should just say “YES” to repeal casino gambling in our state.
Wherever casinos are built, the way they operate sucks tourism that was widely spread among local businesses to feed the mega-corporation. Very different from building other entertainment venues that attract people who will also shop at other neighborhood businesses.
“But what about jobs, the drum-beat casino proponents tout as their best argument? Casino workers’ unions across the country are embroiled in labor fights with casino owners, fighting for fair pay and even to keep what little they receive in tips. Last year, hundreds of employees quit just days after the opening of Cleveland’s new Horseshoe Casino, outraged at their excessive hours and low pay.” from article by Steve Holt in Universal Hub 3/06/2013 Here’s the Cleveland article :http://www.clevescene.com/…/lots-of-people-already-quitting
More info on negative effects for everyone in a community: http://imshttp.rapv.com/documents/CasinoResearch-NAR.pdf
Casinos and labor: the rest of the story
somervilletom
| Sun, Jul 13, 2014
Buried in the middle of the A-section of today’s Sunday Globe is a clear demonstration of the rest of the story about casino gambling and labor. The glimpse into the future proponents would have us create is equally compelling.
First, the facts (emphasis mine):
First, the facts (emphasis mine):
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Atlantic City’s crumbling casino market disintegrated even further Saturday as the owners of the Trump Plaza casino said they expect to shut down in mid-September.
Trump Entertainment Resorts said no final decision has been made on the Boardwalk casino. But the company said it expects the casino to close its doors Sept. 16.
Notices warning employees of the expected closing will go out to the casino’s 1,000-plus employees Monday.
If Trump Plaza closes, Atlantic City could lose a third of its casinos and a quarter of its casino workforce in less than nine months. The Atlantic Club closed in January, the Showboat is closing next month, and Revel might do likewise if a buyer can’t be found in bankruptcy court.
Some of us have argued here that casinos = jobs, and a significant number of Massachusetts residents seem receptive. I therefore offer the following dose of hard-nosed current reality, this time from Atlantic City today (emphasis mine):
The head of Atlantic City’s main casino workers’ union demanded state lawmakers help head off what he called a “pending catastrophe” that will affect the state’s tourism industry and tax collections.
…
The company did not indicate what might become of the building after it is closed.
Bob McDevitt, president of Local 54 of the Unite-HERE union, said 7,000 casino workers — or about one in four — have been warned their jobs could disappear within 60 days.
“While this is a personal tragedy for every family involved, it is also a crisis for the state,” he said. “We expect Trenton to react with more than just sympathetic sound bites; we demand action equal to the magnitude of this pending catastrophe.“
In short:
1. The casino industry is collapsing, especially in Atlantic City
2. When the collapse happens, it happens at catastrophic speed
3. The true equation for labor in Atlantic City today is “Casinos = Unemployed” — to the tune of SEVEN THOUSAND union workers.
4. The very first step of organized labor as the predicted collapse unfolds is to demand “help” from the state.
In my view, this is the real story of casino gambling today. Massachusetts should just say “YES” to repeal casino gambling in our state.
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