STATESIDE
Averting a strike in the height of the tourist season, Atlantic City’s main casino workers union, Local 54, reached a “historic” contract with the gaming properties. This agreement will pay the largest salary increases in history to New Jersey casinos. Some workers will receive a 60% raise. Immediate
increases for minimum hourly starting salaries will rise from $18 to $21, more than twice the federal $7.25 minimum wage. It also exceeds local minimum wages in every state where Hard Rock operates. Some salaried workers will also earn merit raises. Annually, that totals $16,000 more in Florida and
$10,000 more in New Jersey, where the hourly minimum is already higher. Company officials claim larger paychecks reduce
employee turnover and help ease inflation rates. It also markets Hard Rock as a superior organization to attract talented staff. University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) gambling
historian David Schwartz agrees, stating, “It will give Hard Rock a competitive advantage at a time when labor is relatively tight. The service industry may be at a crossroads, and raising pay is one way to attract excellent employees.” Will others follow suit? Some will, but others may want to
reward individual employees strictly on performance. Hard Rock is not the first employer to support struggling
employees in hard times. One memorable example was August 2005. After Hurricane Katrina hit the southern Gulf Coast, killing 1,800 people and causing $125 billion
10 OCTOBER 2022
in damage, several Mississippi and Louisiana casino operators jumped into action. They covered several months of employees’ health care
coverage and salaries. Harrah’s CEO Gary Loveman and MGM Mirage CEO Terry Lanni oversaw subsidies and available relocation options for thousands. These are tough times and casinos find themselves in
unchartered territory. All must think “outside the box” to keep quality employees on their payrolls.
Finally, condolences to my British colleagues on Queen Elizabeth’s passing. Working for English publisher/owner Datateam (Casino International) since 2001, and its predecessor World’s Fair (EUROSLOT) since 1994, I have visited the U.K. numerous times over these decades, sometimes working at trade shows at London’s Earl’s Court. My parents first took me to London for my 18th birthday
in 19__. I loved the history, buildings and institutions, touring the entire United Kingdom multiple times. As an adult, I lived near Philadelphia’s Independence Hall and Liberty Bell. I considered them historic and spectacular, but at “only” 200-plus years old then, these wonderful buildings were modern in comparison to England’s thousand-year history. Who could argue that Queen Elizabeth dedicated her life to service? Anyone nearing or past 70 realizes the meaning of that timespan. Congratulations on the Queen’s unique legacy. She has well earned a peaceful rest.
SeanPavonePhoto/Adobe Stock
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