Chester Track Cutting 93 Jobs
Downsizing will be permanentBy PAUL GIANNAMORE
CHESTER - Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort has cut 93 jobs from its ranks permanently.
The company is describing the cuts as a reduction in force, not a layoff. The cuts represent a 4-percent reduction in the permanent work force at Mountaineer.
Tamara Pettit, Mountaineer spokeswoman, said the cuts are across the board, with the majority coming from the salaried and management ranks.
Robert Griffin, who became chief executive officer at the beginning of November with the departure of Ted Arneault, said, "As the largest employer in Hancock County, it's vital that we act to ensure that Mountaineer is profitable and that we continue to provide jobs for residents and revenue to our county and the state of West Virginia."
He said the reduction is necessary to ensure Mountaineer remains competitive in difficult economic times.
Pettit emphasized the cuts affect far fewer jobs than were created when the resort added table gambling in the fall of 2007. With poker tables and full casino games, the resort added 700 positions.
Mountaineer had 2,169 employees and will have 2,076 after the cuts, she said.
Mountaineer had reported an increase in net revenue in the third quarter, but as the results were released, officials emphasized that a focus on cutting corporate overhead was to be made.
Pettit said while table gambling brought increased revenue in the third quarter - the tables weren't open during the 2007 third quarter - slot machine revenue fell by $4.2 million.
"Increased competition from Pennsylvania, increased gasoline prices and the faltering economy all impacted our business," she said.
Mountaineer pushed to have table gambling approved in a local referendum in mid-2007 and began opening table gambling operations in October of that year.
"The passage of table games was vital to Mountaineer's survival. Had table games not passed, Mountaineer's ability to compete would have been drastically impacted and the reduction in force would have been much higher," she said.
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robojock
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11-22-08 1:26 PM
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WV's economy, isn't it great. I can't believe all of this wonderful change happening.
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susanTtalker
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11-22-08 11:55 AM
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Vote for our measure, and we'll give you jobs! What a lie. The boost in the economy was just artificial..when people don't have money to gamble, of course the revenues will go down at the casinos. But Ted Arneault sure got his golden parachute, including the huge Mountaineer mansion up there in Hancock County. When you build your economy on something unstable like a gambling casino, it will crumble.
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wvhoopie
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11-22-08 9:54 AM
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Gambling is like any other retail outlet. If people stop coming, you don't need all the workers. When Pa. opened their gambling centers, WV was surely going to feel the impact since no one else around here had gambling, and many of the gamblers came from Pa which has many more gamblers than WV. Table games have helped since no other state in our area has table games. If Pa. passes a table gaming bill the impact will be even worse.
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billybob
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11-22-08 9:41 AM
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Our answer allow gambling instead of backing industy comming up crpp. The new mob has taken us for a ride again. Don't forget to tax the Wheeling water-front cause it's empty. New name for csar is The Ruling Your Home in Wheeling. Ahead of the curve. Oh and Mike I take you want Obama to instantly correct our economy when it took your idiot eight years to help trash it. And your writer says no child left behind a success? You and this paper seem out of touch. But money talks so I have to walk.
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Steelbuck
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11-22-08 8:37 AM
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Joesr - FYI a RIf (reduction in force) is a common term used when permanently eliminating a job vs a layoff leads one to believe there is potential for callback. No so dumb imo. Also, I'd love to hear your rational for projecting layoffs at Wheeling Island. Go Buckeyes!!!
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joesr66
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11-22-08 8:06 AM
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Tell those 93 people its not a layoff cause they have no job now.That is the dumbest statement I ever heard.The next place on layoff will be Wheeling Island Race Track.
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