Icahn Rejects Trump Taj Mahal Workers' Offer - Casino Will Still Close

Billionaire Carl Icahn has rejected a bid from Trump Taj Mahal workers that would keep the casino open, and he’s reaffirmed plans to shut down the Taj Mahal on October 10.

Icahn says that the union for the Atlantic City casino has no one to blame but themselves for the loss of almost 3,000 jobs.

The offer from Local 54 of the Unite-HERE union again called for Icahn to restore worker benefits and pensions, stating that it would only cost $1.3 million more than the casino is currently paying workers.

Trump Entertainment slashed healthcare and pensions for the Trump Taj Mahal in 2014. When Icahn assumed the casino’s debts last March, he failed to restore these benefits due to the resort’s declining revenue.

Peter Battaglini, a bellman at Taj Mahal since its opening day in 1990, told ABC News that he thought they came up with a solid offer.

“We came up with a proposal that will restore what we have lost, while at the same time giving the company time to rebuild its business,” he said. “This is a win-win proposal in my book.”

Bob McDevitt, president of the Unite-HERE union, didn’t know if Icahn was serious about keeping the casino open “or just wants to punish workers and Atlantic City.”

Tony Rodio, the president of Icahn’s Tropicana casino who also oversees Taj Mahal, said that future meetings with the union and workers will only be focused on closing down the casino.

“This was not a negotiating session,” said Rodio. “As previously announced, the Taj Mahal will close its doors on October 10, 2016. Bob McDevitt and the Taj bargaining committee have no one to blame but themselves for this sad outcome.

“If McDevitt cared even one iota about the future of the employees he would have allowed them to vote on the proposal we offered five weeks ago based on his recommendations, which we believe could have saved the Taj. But in the end he blindsided us and the employees because closing the Taj served his personal purposes.”

On July 1st, 1,000 housekeepers, servers, hotel workers, and union went on strike against Taj Mahal. They key issue was the lack of health insurance and pension benefits. The casino offered a small number of these benefits back, but this was rejected by the union.

On August 5, Icahn announced that he would be closing down the Taj Mahal. But the billionaire still needs to file a petition with the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement before he can do so.