ATLANTIC CITY--Thousands of workers at six Atlantic City casinos have overwhelmingly approved new two-year contracts.

The deals cover about 5,000 workers, including food servers,
housekeepers and dishwashers, represented by Local 54 of
UNITE-HERE, the city's largest casino workers union.

While similar to contracts approved in September at four other city casinos, these deals include wage freezes in the first year.

Casino officials say that gives them some financial breathing room,
while union officials say the wage freeze can be made up for in the contract's second year, when workers will be eligible for greater hourly increases.

Union officials say 96 percent of voting members approved the new deals with the Tropicana Casino and Resort; Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort; Resorts Atlantic City; Trump Taj Mahal; Trump Plaza and Trump Marina.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)