Bankruptcy judge denies Trump Entertainment request to eliminate union pension obligations

A Delaware bankruptcy judge has denied a request by Trump Entertainment Resorts to be relieved of its pension obligations under a collective bargaining agreement with workers at the Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

After hearing arguments and testimony from company witnesses Thursday, Judge Kevin Gross denied the motion in a teleconference with attorneys Friday.

Gross said the company had not demonstrated that it would suffer immediate harm if he did not allow termination of its pension contributions before an Oct. 14 hearing on Trump Entertainment's request for permission to terminate the labor agreement entirely.

The judge also noted that there is no provision in the bankruptcy code allowing a debtor to terminate a collective bargaining agreement except in its entirety.