Despite a string of protocols to minimize exposure to Covid-19, workers at five properties said guest temperatures are not being taken with regularity. In an online press conference, members of Local 54 of the Unite-Here union named Caesars, Harrah’s, Bally’s, and the Tropicana as casinos not following the protocols. The Ocean Casino has been doing verbal screenings as well. The four Caesars casinos also rely on a verbal screening process to question guests.
The remaining four casinos—Hard Rock, Golden Nugget, Borgata and Resorts—have been taking temperatures, employees said.
“We stand on our belief that if you’re going to temperature check the employees for safety, you should temperature check the customers because we know where the employees came from, but we don’t know where the customers came from,” said Local 54 President Bob McDevitt.
The workers called on New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy to mandate physical temperature checks for anyone entering a casino, according to the Associated Press. As of August 10, Murphy did not respond for comment.
Donna DeCaprio, the union’s secretary-treasurer, said the union has documented at least 180 instances of casinos failing to verbally screen guests. The local also documented 75 cases with a lack of thorough hotel room cleaning.
“We’re not doing a good job even being partially open,” said Jason McKnight, a bartender at Harrah’s. “The rooms aren’t being cleaned on a daily basis the way they are supposed to. This is a lot of people in an enclosed place, and we’re not rising to the challenge.”
Caesars Entertainment took exception to the accusations. “Caesars Entertainment’s Atlantic City health and safety plan fully complies with all governmental directives,” said Steve Callender, the company’s regional president. “In addition to our enhanced cleaning protocols and other requirements that apply to our valued team members, all of our guests must pass a screening process before being allowed into our properties and must wear face masks in compliance with the governor’s orders.”
The Casino Association of New Jersey worked with AtlantiCare and Local 54 to develop protocols. But the mandatory temperature reads were not part of the final recommendations.
“If (the casinos) take the time to look at the guest, go through the questions, have them answer all the questions and really engage them, that’s better than a temperature read. But that’s not happening. It’s not even close,” McDevitt said.
Prior to each shift, all nine properties take employee temperatures. If the reading exceeds 100.3 degrees, the employee is sent home.
Janey Negron, a bartender at the Tropicana, said the casino has too many entrances and not all are covered.
“They do not take your temperature,” she said. “They just let you walk on by.”
