LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Tropicana resort and casino on the Las Vegas Strip closes for good on April 2 to make way for a new ballpark for the Oakland Athletics. You may be wondering — what happens to the iconic property's many employees?
The closure comes not long after the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 — which represents between 300 to 400 workers at the property — and resort executives agreed to a five-year labor contract last December.
The union's secretary-treasurer, Ted Pappageorge, said under that new labor deal, unionized full-time workers can choose to take a larger severance of $2,000 per year of service and six months' healthcare and pension. Or, Pappageorge said workers can choose to take a smaller severance and be prioritized for jobs at the new resort that's expected to be built on the property alongside the new ballpark for the Oakland A's. That's known as "recall rights."
"For most of the folks at the Tropicana, really it's many years down the road when the new hotel and stadium are going to be built and open for business. So I think the vast majority of them took the severance that gives them $2,000 per year of service and also six months' healthcare and pension."
He said they negotiated those protections into the labor deal for workers knowing the Tropicana closure was coming. He added similar language can be found in other recent labor contracts the union has negotiated with other major resorts in Las Vegas.
"These workers were loyal to the Tropicana, and owner after owner after owner came through there with different development plans. These workers stayed. They could've left. Many have been there for decades. So they've earned, we think, the right to be secure when these big corporations close."
Longtime Tropicana Las Vegas employees prepare to say farewell
After 67 years in operation, every corner of the Tropicana is filled with memories — especially for the workers who've spent decades of their lives at the resort.
WATCH: Two longtime Tropicana employees reflect on the emotional "goodbye" to fellow workers who've become like family to them.
