The eight remaining casinos in Atlantic City

About 2,000 protesters are expected to gather along the Boardwalk near Taj Mahal on Wednesday. The group is seeking the restoration of casino workers' benefits. (Ed Murray/NJ Advance Media)

ATLANTIC CITY — A casino union embroiled in a bitter battle with an Atlantic City casino owner over workers benefits plan to stage a demonstration that will include a display of "mass civil disobedience" on Wednesday.

Approximately 2,000 casino workers, community members and other union members will take part in the demonstration, according to Local 54 of UNITE-HERE spokesman Ben Beglieter.

The protest will begin at 5 p.m. along the Boardwalk by the Taj Mahal.

Beglieter didn't immediately reply when asked what the "mass civil disobedience" might entail.

Twenty-four people were arrested in October when members of Local 54 swarmed an intersection at the foot of the Atlantic City Expressway and blocked traffic. Protesters sat down in the intersection and refused to move when ordered by officers.

The Atlantic City Press said 60 protesters will participate "directly" in civil disobedience on Wednesday.

Carl Icahn has been locked in a battle with the city's main casino workers' union over the elimination of 1,100 workers' health insurance and pension plans. Parent company Trump Entertainment Resorts made the cuts last October after a bankruptcy judge allowed them to do so.

Icahn is swapping $292 million worth of the company's debt that he owns in return for ownership of the company. He will invest as much as $100 million to keep the Taj Mahal afloat after bankruptcy. He also owns the Tropicana.

Last week the Atlantic City council passed a resolution supporting the union workers in their quest to have their benefits restored.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Follow him on Twitter @JGoldmanNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.