Strike at Trump Taj Mahal during the holidays

Union members walked off the job on Friday after failing to reach a contract that restores health insurance and pension plans, which were canceled in 2014.

US.- Union members walked off the job at Atlantic City’s Trump Taj Mahal on Friday in accordance to their warnings.

Local 54 of the Unite-Here union were unable to reach a contract that restores its members’ health insurance and pension plans. Back in 2004, the former owners of the casino got a bankruptcy judge to cancel those benefits. Now, the casino belongs to Trump’s friend and fellow billionaire Carl Icahn.

According to Icahn’s management team the union seems “hell-bent on trying to close this property” and pointed out that the millionaire has spent US$86m keeping the Taj Mahal alive through bankruptcy. The last time Local 54 waged a strike in 2004, it lasted 34 days. The union said no further contract talks were scheduled.

“Everyone is really motivated and really excited out here fighting Carl Icahn,” said Bob McDevitt, union president. “They’re not counting the days right now. They just figure they’ll be here as long as they have to.”