FIRST ON 3: Spotlight 29 Casino Cuts Workers Pay 12 Percent
NEAR COACHELLA – Just one day after Spotlight 29 Casino celebrates its $50 million dollar renovations, News Channel 3 uncovers the casino has cut all of its workers pay by 12 percent and ended their retirement programs.
While a ribbon was cut to celebrate Thursday’s opening of Spotlight 29’s renovated casino floor, the workers were facing a cut of their own: their paychecks.
News Channel 3 confirmed pay for around 700 workers was cut by 12 percent. The casino has also stopped contributing to their worker’s 401(k) retirement program.
We discovered this one day after the casino kicked off their 15 year anniversary event unveiling their latest expansion projects.
General Manager Robert Paull explains, “52 million was spent in total. That includes our parking structure, new administration offices.”
No casino workers were willing to talk on camera. They still have their jobs for now.
The casino’s general manager told us over the phone, the pay cuts were “something we didn’t want to do,” and “the economy caught up with us.” He refused to say how much revenues went down, but did mention construction costs were a factor.
The General Manager added pay cuts were spread from top to bottom. It is unknown if the large payments tribal members receive are affected.
A 12 percent pay cut for 700 casino workers takes away most of their discretionary spending. That means 700 families wont be spending much at local restaurants, and they wont be buying much at local retail stores. Their lack of spending money will have ripple affects onthe entire local economy.
