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ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Associated Press) — The Latest on Atlantic City's main casino workers union and its strike against the Trump Taj Mahal casino (all times local):
2:45 p.m.
The Trump Taj Mahal casino says the union representing striking workers seems "hell-bent on trying to close this property."
About 1,000 members of Local 54 of the Unite-HERE union began walking off the job at the Trump Taj Mahal casino Friday amid a contract dispute with billionaire owner Carl Icahn at the start of the busiest weekend of the year for the casino industry.
Icahn's management team says he has spent $86 million keeping the Taj Mahal alive through bankruptcy and $150 million more improving the Tropicana, which he also owns.
The Taj ranks next to last in Atlantic City in terms of the amount of money it wins from gamblers each month. It narrowly escaped closing during its most recent turn through bankruptcy court.
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1 p.m.
Atlantic City's Trump Taj Mahal casino has pressed management into service to perform work that striking union members had done, including handling luggage at the hotel desk.
About 1,000 members of Local 54 of the Unite-HERE union began walking off the job at the Trump Taj Mahal casino at 6 a.m. Friday amid a contract dispute with owner Carl Icahn at the start of the busiest weekend of the year for the casino industry.
The Taj Mahal was the only one of the five casinos targeted by the union that couldn't reach a deal.
Hundreds of protesters are walking the picket line. A bar trailer outside the casino is succeeding in drowning out some of the union's chanting and singing by blasting hip-hop from large speakers mounted atop its roof.
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11:10 a.m.
Striking union members are chanting, banging drums and blowing whistles as part of a raucous picket line outside Atlantic City's Trump Taj Mahal casino.
About 1,000 members of Local 54 of the Unite-HERE union began walking off the job at 6 a.m. Friday amid a contract dispute with owner and billionaire investor Carl Icahn at the start of the busiest weekend of the year for the casino industry.
By 10 a.m., about 300 workers were walking the picket line, with more joining as their shifts ended.
Casino management ordered striking employees to remove their cars from the parking garage, and security officials filmed the protests from a balcony.
The Taj Mahal was the only one of the five casinos targeted by the union that couldn't reach a new deal.
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6 a.m.
Atlantic City's main casino workers union has begun picketing against the Trump Taj Mahal casino amid a contract dispute.
Local 54 of the Unite-HERE union tells The Associated Press that it was unable to reach agreement on a new contract with the Taj Mahal, which is owned by billionaire investor Carl Icahn.
The walkout involving about 950 union members began at about sunrise Friday as the busy July 4 holiday weekend got underway.
The Taj Mahal was the only one of the five casinos targeted by the union that was unable to reach a new deal.
On Thursday, the union struck deals with Bally's, Caesars, Harrah's and the Tropicana.
Borgata, Golden Nugget and Resorts were not targeted by the union, and are not affected by the strike.
The last casino strike in 2004 lasted 34
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12:20 a.m.
Atlantic City's main casino workers union says it will go on strike Friday morning against the Trump Taj Mahal casino.
Local 54 of the Unite-HERE union tells The Associated Press that it was unable to reach agreement on a new contract with the Taj Mahal, which is owned by billionaire investor Carl Icahn.
The walkout involving about 950 union members could begin around 6 a.m.
The Taj Mahal was the only one of the five casinos targeted by the union that was unable to reach a new deal.
On Thursday, the union struck deals with Bally's, Caesars, Harrah's and the Tropicana.
Borgata, Golden Nugget and Resorts were not targeted by the union, and are not affected by the strike.
The last casino strike in 2004 lasted 34 days.
