Planned Picketing By Atlantic City Casino Workers May Mean Mass Arrests
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (CBS) -- The union representing most Atlantic City casino workers plans some informational picketing on the Boardwalk this holiday weekend, and union leaders suggest the city is threatening them with arrest if they do.
Contracts for workers at nine Atlantic City casinos expire on September 15th, and they're still working on a new one for Resorts. That's where Local 54 says it will be picketing.
Union president Bob McDevitt insists his members have done this time and time again over the years without a problem. But not this time, he's been told.
"The threat is, if we're picketing without a permit that they're going to arrest people. So there's a possibility of mass arrests," McDevitt told KYW Newsradio today.
McDevitt stresses that his members will not block entrances or intimidate anyone, and cites a 34-day strike seven years ago during which there was not a single arrest on the picket line.
He didn't need a permit then, he says, and won't get one now.
The solicitor for Atlantic City, Bruce Ward, has not been available for comment.
Reported by David Madden, KYW Newsradio 1060
