Fred Buro, chief executive for the Tropicana Casino and Resort, was dismissed recently. His replacement, Mark Giannantonio, held the position of executive vice-president of operations. He is expected to halt the decline in revenue.
Columbia Sussex completed their purchase of the Tropicana in the beginning of the year. Almost immediately the new management began a program of job cuts, layoffs and terminations which to date have totaled 15% of the work force of 2006.
In the month of July 2007 the property reflected a decline of 11% in casino revenue from July of 2006. Besides the termination of over 700 employees the casino ended its junket program in the lower mid Atlantic states replacing it with a joint program with the Cape May ferry.
Union Local 54 of Atlantic City, which supplies most of the hotel employees to Atlantic City casinos, has strongly objected to the cuts made by Columbia Sussex.
Recent statements by Fred Mcdevitt, the president of Local 54, are that the union will oppose the relicensing of the casino. Its renewal is due in several months. This action if taken by the Local will be unprecedented in the history of the industry in the town.
Perhaps the most controversial firing made by the Tropicana was it’s termination of Vincent Rennich, a casino supervisor who has had a pending lawsuit against the property because of a diagnosis of lung cancer and Rennich being a lifelong non-smoker.
One week after testifying of the workplace dangers (secondhand smoke) of the casino in front of a state legislature hearing Rennich was dismissed.
He has since filed a wrongful termination suit against the casino.
James Whelan former mayor of Atlantic City and now an assemblyman from Atlantic County has been an outspoken critic of William Yung II who is CEO of Columbia-Sussex.
A report from WMGM channel 40 stated that Buro was shown the door because he refused to lay off any more employees.
The casino dealers are voting on August 25th as to whether to allow the UAW to represent them in contract negotiations.
As is expected, the dealers have received numerous memos advising them voting for unions.
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