The New York Times reported Saturday on the United Auto Workers march through the streets of Atlantic City in support of efforts to negotiate contracts with several major casinos:

Shouting “Negotiate!” as they made their way through the streets, about 3,000 newly unionized casino workers and their supporters staged a rally on Saturday aimed at pressuring Atlantic City casinos to agree to new contracts.

The marchers, angry over the lack of progress in talks with the gambling halls on what would be the resort’s first union contracts for dealers, waved signs and chanted slogans as they walked past the major casinos. The police had cordoned off a few blocks for the protest, which lasted more than three hours. No major problems were reported.

For several months, the UAW has been unable to accomplish much progress toward contracts with Caesars, Trump Plaza,Tropicana and Bally’s.  Thus, this weekend's rally -- the permit for which was approved for the Boardwalk -- took to the streets in an effort to "shut th[e] town down."

According to the Times:

Mr. Menendez read a message from Senator Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, who urged the two sides to come together and reach a fair deal.

While one might take exception with the Times characterization of Senator Obama's plea toward the "two sides," he left little doubt in his statement where his sympathies lie: 

The challenges you faced to organize and now face in bargaining are the reason I cosponsored the Employee Free Choice Act, and, as President, I will proudly fight for its enactment and sign it into law.