Legislation would let 300 Atlantic City casino regulators unionize

Proposed legislation could allow about 300 Atlantic City casino regulators to join a union. The state Senate Labor Committee is scheduled to consider a bill that would allow Casino Control Commission employees to drop their „confidential employee“ designation and unionize.

Under current state law, the designation is for public employees whose jobs or employment knowledge would make them incompatible to join a union. The state civil service system considers all CCC employees, with the exception of some secretarial and clerical workers, to be „confidential employees.“

Communication Workers of America has sought to unionize CCC employees for about 15 years, CWA Local 1032 legislative and political coordinator Dudley Burdge said. Burdge said regulators in other states, including New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Michigan can organize, as well as those who oversee Indian casinos in Illinois and Connecticut. He said about 300 workers could be affected by the bill.

State Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney and state Senator Jeff Van Drew, sponsor the legislation. The Assembly version is sponsored by Assemblymen John Burzichelli and Matthew Milam and Nelson Albano.