The imminent closure of the Tropicana Casino has come as a bittersweet moment for its longstanding employees. On April 2, just two days before its 67th anniversary, the venerable Las Vegas Strip landmark will cease operations permanently, a move that not only marks the end of an era but also initiates a windfall for many workers there.
Per the agreement brokered in a union contract this past December, severance packages for the outgoing workforce are quite generous. These packages are calculated at $2,000 per year of service with no upper limit, setting the stage for hundreds of dedicated employees to potentially exit with up to $60,000 each.
Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 highlighted the depth of commitment among the workers. A significant number of them, he noted, have devoted decades to the Tropicana. Pappageorge’s remarks came during a news conference on Zoom earlier in the week.
Las Vegas’s landscape of hotels and casinos is ever-evolving, with frequent buying, selling, and development of new projects. Pappageorge emphasized that while progress is embraced, it should not result in the callous displacement of workers.
Plans for the Tropicana’s grounds have been unveiled by Bally’s Corporation, the property’s current owner. Unaffiliated with the Caesars property once also named Bally’s, the company is preparing to demolish the site to clear the way for an innovative baseball stadium, destined to become the new home for the Oakland A’s.
State legislators in Nevada have sanctioned $380 million in public funds to support the construction of the stadium, estimated at a total cost of $1.5 billion. In parallel, Bally’s Corporation is designing a new casino resort adjacent to the proposed ballpark. As a gesture of goodwill and opportunity, Tropicana’s loyal employees are being given the chance to accept reduced severance in exchange for priority consideration for jobs at the new resort.
While the Tropicana’s current union contract isn’t transferable to the stadium, Pappageorge pointed out that there is a separate agreement with the A’s organization, potentially opening doors for stadium employees to unionize.
Pappageorge remains optimistic about the future of Las Vegas as an entertainment hub morphing into a sports haven, poised to welcome the Las Vegas A’s alongside the Vegas Golden Knights and the Las Vegas Raiders, embellishing the city’s reputation as the world’s entertainment and now sporting capital.
As we bid farewell to a piece of Vegas history, we can’t help but recall the thrill of casino games and the enjoyment they’ve brought to many over the years. For those who will miss the clink of chips and the spin of the roulette wheel at Tropicana, there’s a realm of virtual entertainment waiting to satisfy that casino crave. If you’re in Canada and searching for a reputable place to dive back into the action, we at West Island Blog want to share with you our list of the top online casinos for this month. Ready to recapture the excitement? [Check out our selections and find your new favorite online gaming destination.
