http://www.radio4all.net/program/61261Podcast for Program: Workers Arrested and Suspended in Tropicana Pension Fight; The Heist Fri, 06 Jul 2012 14:33:45 +0000240http://www.radio4all.net/program/61261Workers At Atlantic City's Tropicana Tells Casino You Can't Gamble With Our Pensions! With Shari Shugar, Cocktail Waitress at the Tropicana, Member UNITE HERE Local 54 and Ben Begleiter, Research Analyst, UNITE HERE Local 54 The Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City indefinitely suspended 21 workers who protested by blocking traffic near the casino's entrance resulting in the arrest of 49 protesters. Local 54 of UNITE HERE was protesting the failure to negotiate a new contract and the casino's termination of its employee pension plan. The union says its members were exercising their free speech rights on their off hours, and should not have been suspended. Francine Stevenson marked her 17th anniversary with the Tropicana by getting a suspension notice. "I feel very angry and upset about what has happened. My father is 81 years old, and he had to go back to work driving a truck because he has no pension. It is just not right what companies are doing to their workers." Stevenson vowed to continue the fight for the workers pension. Bob McDevitt, President of Local 54, said that the Tropicana broke the law first by refusing to bargain in good faith, and terminating its pension plan. *************** The Heist: Who Stole the American Dream? excerpts from this new feature documentary talking about implementing the of the now generations old plan which was started in the 1970's by the US ruling class by transferring wealth from the working class and the poor to themselves. The excerpts deal with attacks on workers' pension plans, social security and unions. Ken Nash and Mimi RosenbergFri, 06 Jul 2012 14:33:45 +0000