Majestic Star Casino is betting it can operate better with fewer employees.
The casino laid off about 50 workers at its two gaming boats in Northwest Indiana this week. However, it offered part-time jobs to some of the laid-off full-time employees, who accepted a cut in hours, the Times of Northwest Indiana reports.
Majestic Star took the recommendation from its consultants to scale back staffing in this tough economy, said General Manager Larry Buck.
Along with the layoffs, the casino will close Majestic Star II's top floor and pack up its poker room for a move downstairs, Buck said.
The workers' union, Unite Here Local 1, is worrying about future job cuts.
"This represents another example of the exact opposite of what was promised when riverboat gaming came to Northwest Indiana, which was jobs and economic development," said Unite Here Local 1 Representative Tim Barnes.
