Strike odds high at Vegas' downtown casinos
Associated Press
LAS VEGAS — With only hours until a strike deadline at downtown Las Vegas casinos, the Culinary Union's chief negotiator is predicting a walkout.
Associated Press
"There's no settlement in sight" with several downtown hotels that have taken a hard line in the negotiations, John Wilhelm, the union's international president, said yesterday. Those hotels include Binion's Horseshoe, Four Queens, El Cortez, Las Vegas Club, Plaza and Western. The Castaways on Boulder Highway also is part of that group.
Albert Quinones, seated, watches Adam Lopez assemble picket signs at a union office in Las Vegas. Deadline for meeting contract agreements is midnight tomorrow.
"If I had to bet, I'd say there will be a strike," Wilhelm said.
And the chances of reaching contract agreements with Boyd Gaming and Fitzgeralds before the midnight tomorrow deadline are threatened because the union is "miles apart" in talks with other downtown casinos, he said.
Representatives of Culinary Local 226 and Bartender's Local 165 were to meet yesterday with Boyd Gaming, which owns three unionized hotels — the Stardust on the Strip and the Fremont and Main Street Station in downtown. The union is scheduled to negotiate with Fitzgeralds today.
Attorney Gregory Kamer, who represents the downtown hotels, agreed with Wilhelm that both sides are far apart.
"The union bosses are refusing to budge for whatever reason," he said. "The modified proposal they presented to us earlier in the week still is unaffordable. It's beyond the ability of my clients to pay."
But Kamer added: "We're prepared to bargain round-the-clock on Saturday and Sunday to avoid a strike."
Wilhelm said the union also was willing to talk.
