PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Labor contracts between Atlantic City’s largest union and nine casinos are due to expire in one month and Local 54 is negotiating a new contract with another.

Put all that together with the city’s continued gaming downturn and it equates to rough times ahead down the shore.

Resorts, just out of bankruptcy, slashed wages dramatically for Local 54 members and union President Bob McDevitt is worried about a possible ripple effect.

“Their wages were cut from $14.17 an hour to $9.50 an hour. They’re losing their homes. They’re being evicted from their apartments. They can’t make ends meet and that is not an acceptable means of building a business model for success in this city,” implores McDevitt.

While that new contract may not serve as a model for every other casino except Borgata, they’re all facing the same problems.

Revenues are down and have been since the onset of casinos in Pennsylvania and the future outlook isn’t pretty. McDevitt concedes that and says his challenge is finding a way to cut costs that won’t hit his 14,000 members too hard.

Reported By David Madden, KYW Newsradio