ATLANTIC CITY - Democratic Party and union events should not be held in Atlantic City until casino dealers there get their first contracts, a state party leader said Friday during a news conference on the Boardwalk.

State Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney, D-Cumberland, Salem, Gloucester, was speaking in support of the United Auto Workers union, which successfully organized dealers at four resort casinos in 2007.

Sweeney said the casinos have decided to "stall, stall, stall" during negotiations and suggested not holding events in Atlantic City as a way to pull back business at those properties.

"You want our money, you want our support," Sweeney said of the casinos. "We want to be your biggest supporter. But why should we be supporting them if they don't support the workers?"

Many of the politicians at the news conference were already in Atlantic City this week for the New Jersey Democratic State Conference, a three-day event at Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino capped off by an appearance by former Vice President Al Gore.

The gaming hall is one of the four where dealers are unionized under the UAW, but where management is refusing to negotiate a contract and is appealing the requirement in federal court.

Sweeney could not be reached for further comment after the news conference about why the Democratic State Conference is being held at Trump Plaza.

Other unions, such as the Edison-based New Jersey State Industrial Union Council and the Las Vegas-based American Federation of Teachers, are refusing to do business with Harrah's Entertainment Inc. because dealers at its Bally's Atlantic City and Caesars Atlantic City casinos are without contracts.

The UAW's contract committee has been meeting with Caesars management, while Bally's has refused to bargain at all and is challenging a federal labor board ruling saying it must.

"We continue to bargain in good faith," said Harrah's spokeswoman Alyce Parker. "Weekend after weekend, the UAW has chosen to attempt to keep our customers away from Caesars by picketing. Do they really not want customers at our casinos?"

Also at the news conference was State Democratic Party Chairman Joseph Cryan, D-Union, Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson-Coleman, D-Mercer, and state Sen. Jim Whelan, D-Atlantic.

Whelan said he supports not holding Democratic Party or union events at the casinos where management is stalling or refusing to negotiate, but that other properties in Atlantic City should benefit from their business.

In addition to Trump Plaza, Bally's and Caesars, dealers are organized at Tropicana Casino and Resort, where talks with management continue.

E-mail Erik Ortiz:
EOrtiz@pressofac.com