by Jeffrey Gural, Chairman of American Racing and Entertainment

Editor’s Note: The following is a press release issued by Jeffrey R. Gural, chairman of American Racing and Entertainment, in regards to his ongoing negotiations to lease Meadowlands Racetrack.

I met with Bob Ligouri, head of the Tellers Union today. However, for reasons known only to themselves, six of the seven members of his negotiating committee boycotted the meeting. In addition to Mr. Ligouri, there was one member of the negotiating committee and three tellers who came on their own because they were concerned.

Personally, after all the work I have put into this I was highly insulted by the decision of six of the seven members of the negotiating committee to boycott the meeting. I think the fact that they chose to do so indicates that they are not really serious about collective bargaining and simply want to see the place closed for reasons that make no sense.

I thought that Mr. Ligouri and the tellers that were there raised some valid questions and I think I was able to answer those questions and reassure them that it was not our intention to change the existing work rules. I explained that I expected I would be able to retain most of the existing tellers between the new Meadowlands grandstand and the Bayonne facility and I made it clear that as a private operator our interests were totally aligned.

I showed them the new plans for the building and some of the marketing techniques that are successful at Tioga that we would apply to the Meadowlands. The more business we do the more tellers we will need and it is in my economic interest to find a way to bring in new customers which can only work to the benefit of the tellers.

Since six of the seven members of the negotiating committee boycotted the meeting I have no idea what the next step will be, however, I still remain optimistic that common sense will prevail.