Atlantic City casino workers will head to work Thursday without a contract, but both sides say they plan to continue trying to hammer out a deal.
Contracts with nine of the 11 casinos and Local 54 of the Unite HERE! union expired at 12:01 a.m. But a union spokesman says talks will resume soon.
Both sides remain hopeful a deal can be reached to avert a repeat of the 2004 casino strike, which lasted 34 days.
The casinos are seeking pay cuts averaging $3 an hour for a work force that averages $12 an hour. They also want the workers to contribute for the first time to their health insurance and pension costs.
The union says it has foregone pay raises in past years to maintain benefits.
Fan, follow and download: Get the latest from NBCPhiladelphia.com anytime, anywhere. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, our mobile site and NBC Philadelphia. Sign up for our breaking news newsletter. And, get breaking news delivered right to your mobile phone -- just text PHIBREAKING to 639710 to sign up. (Message and data rates may apply.)
