450-plus Indian casino jobs slashed
By
Victor Morales, Today correspondent
Story Published:
Nov 25, 2008
Story Updated:
Nov 21, 2008
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. – More than 450 Indian casino employees have been laid off here as a result of the economic and gaming industry downturn, casino officials said.
Beginning in August, the Pechanga Casino, Riverside County’s second largest employer, began to lay off 368 workers, about 8 percent of their total workforce. That was followed by Morongo Casino’s announcement in the first week of November that they were laying off 95 casino workers, totaling 463 jobs in an area with a dozen Indian casinos.
“It is unfortunate that we have to reduce the work force, but the economy shows no immediate signs of improvement,” Dual Cooper, the Morongo casino’s general manager said in a press release. “We hope to be able to recall employees as conditions improve.”
The Morongo layoffs include dealers and table game operators, said Morongo Casino Spokesman Spence Johnston.
Amy Minniear, president of the Pechanga Development Corporation, had a similar explanation.
“For months, we have resisted the pressure to lay team members off; but because of the prolonged economic downturn, we must downsize in order to adjust to the current market conditions and position ourselves for success once the economy recovers,” she said in a statement.
Minniear said the casino was working on a comprehensive severance package, including outplacement services, for affected employees.
Morongo employees are receiving severance packages and will be eligible for unemployment benefits.
Not all Indian casinos in Southern California are experiencing cutbacks of employees. The San Manuel Casino in San Bernardino County has escaped such cuts.
“We have not had any, not expecting any and nothing is in the works. We’ve been fortunate that we have been able to keep up with the times,” said San Manuel Band of Mission Indian spokesman Jacob Coin.
Sunday, Apr 26 at 4:27 AM Anonymous wrote ...
those bartenders from 360 lounge overpour, overserve intoxicated guests, and neglect to properly ID minors, for their own best interests-tips and higher sales for their personal file. What about loyalty to the company you work for? What about the casinos best interests? Are irresponsible bartenders who risk the casinos liqour license in order to generate more tips and higher sales, really in the casinos best interest? What happens when ABC witnesses this? BYE-BYE LIQOUR LICENSE!FOR A FEW XTRA$$?
20232867 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Sunday, Apr 26 at 4:05 AM Anonymous wrote ...
The tribe needs to be made aware of the manipulation and dishonesty that some of it's department supervisors practice, in covering up decisions and actions they have made, they know could either cost them their jobs, and or risk the casinos gaming and liqour license. For example, Recently beverage management replaced responsible, honest bartenders with seniority, with bartenders from the recently closed 360 lounge, whom it is common knowledge 2 all, overserve intoxicated guests for tips and sale
20232756 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Monday, Dec 15 at 10:16 AM person wrote ...
The dealer's who were laid off did not recieve a severnace package!! They recieved a in lieu of notice..which was about 500 dollars. It's been a monthe and we are still waiting for an unemployment check. Also, why not mention the fact that Dual Cooper is responsible for the layoffs at Pechanga and Morongo..why not mention that he gets a nice bonus if he can get their checks back to the large sum they were.Why not mention how the way they layed people pff was unjust,most worked there 10 plus year
13618954 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Monday, Dec 1 at 2:23 PM the man wrote ...
the native people must now come to the fore front in education not just depending on casinos as the only answers...for examples there exist a new frontier called "medical coding" which can be set up via the internet and allow for sustainable employment. This is just one reputable mode of economic survival or have we lost our vision?
12998894 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Tuesday, Nov 25 at 11:09 AM Original Pechanga wrote ...
Pechanga had already eliminated 400 positions via attrition prior to the layoffs, so their total reduction in employees is over 800 from a high of 5100.
12787158 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Add a comment
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