![]() ![]() No tribal members were laid off yesterday, a fact that some nontribal members called unfair. In a statement yesterday, Acting General Manager Marci Fryberg said the staff reduction was important to "increase the efficiency" of the casino. Tribal members learned near the end of last year that the casino profit was falling below projections, in part because of inflated estimates, which tribal leaders blame on former casino General Manager Chuck James, who was fired in October. During the first nine months of last year, for example, the casino gave away more than $3 million in free food and drinks, according to an income statement last fall. Revenues and visitor levels have stayed close to projections, tribal leaders have said, but expenses have been high. Then, tribal leaders hailed the new casino as a "cash cow" and projected it would bring in $161 million by the end of 2003. The Tulalips closed their old casino when the new one opened. The elimination of 240 jobs - mostly card dealers and food-service employees - leaves the total casino work force at just over 1,400. The layoffs are the latest sign that the Tulalips' glitzy, $78 million casino is not doing as well as expected when it opened to much fanfare in June. ![]() ![]() TULALIP RESERVATION - The Tulalip Tribes yesterday abruptly laid off 240 Tulalip Casino employees, many of whom finished their night shifts and collected their pink slips. ![]()
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