Taj Mahal withdraws health plan offer as strike continues

ATLANTIC CITY -- An Atlantic City casino owned by billionaire Carl Icahn says it has withdrawn an offer to restore health insurance for its striking workers.

The Trump Taj Mahal had given striking Local 54 of Unite-HERE workers until 5 p.m. Monday to vote on its offer. Tony Rodio, head of Tropicana Entertainment Inc., says the offer is now permanently withdrawn.

Union leader Bob McDevitt says that the offer was "essentially half" of what workers from other casinos received.

About 1,000 union members from the Taj Mahal's food and beverage and housekeeping departments went on strike on July 1 after the union was unable to agree on a contract that restored health care and pension benefits that a bankruptcy judge terminated in 2014.

Dealers and security are not included in the walkout, and Trump Taj Mahal remains open.

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