Union blocks traffic to protest casino givebacks

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Casino workers are blocking traffic on a southern New Jersey highway to protest demands for contract givebacks being made to keep the Trump Taj Mahal casino open.

Several members of Local 54 of the Unite-HERE union entered the Atlantic City Expressway early Wednesday night in an act of civil disobedience, and 24 of them were soon arrested.

Union president Bob McDevitt blames Trump Entertainment Resorts and billionaire Carl Icahn for demanding employees give up their pensions and health insurance.

Icahn says he invested $100 million to save the Tropicana from bankruptcy four years ago, but says he had nothing to do with running the Taj Mahal aside from owning the company's debt.