In Business Las Vegas, July 27th, 2007
Culinary Union members once again asked support of a presidential candidate for an unspecified, upcoming "big fight" with casino leaders.
John
Edwards
last week said he sympathized with the union's demands in a sit-down meeting with about 50 members, days before the Culinary started talks with 15 smaller casino companies. The union is in the midst of testy negotiations with MGM Mirage.
"I'll do anything,"
Edwards
said, responding to one of several requests that he stand by the union members this summer. "I'm proud of you for standing up. You need to stand up."
Edwards
and other candidates have wooed the union because it is expected to play a pivotal role in the Jan. 19 Democratic caucus.
The Culinary and its sister organization, the Bartenders Union, reached an agreement with casino giant Harrah's Entertainment in mid-June in a contract that covered 15,000 workers.
Contracts remain open for 35,000 employees, including 21,000 of MGM Mirage's workers.
"We still have several big-ticket items that we still need to resolve," said
Gordon
Absher, MGM Mirage spokesman
. As it has for the past few months, the company says it is working with the employees' interests in minds and plans to reach an agreement.
As for the presidential candidate attention,
Absher
said: "We're not fighting with the candidates and we're not fighting with the union ... The presidential candidates, with all due respect, don't really have a voice in these negotiations."
The company and union have clashed, among other topics, over the wage scale system. MGM Mirage wants one similar to the system at Wynn Las Vegas that ties payroll to the cost of living. The Culinary is pushing the traditional system of set raises, which it received in the Harrah's contract this year.
Culinary workers complained to
Edwards
that MGM Mirage negotiators had mentioned splitting off two lower-end casinos, the Excalibur and Circus Circus, from the Strip wage scale and put them on a lower wage scale paid to downtown workers. The offer was not seriously considered, a Culinary official said.
"That's not right. That should not be allowed,"
Edwards
said. After a pause, he reiterated: "I'm against it," making the audience members clap.
Besides the Harrah's deal, the Culinary also talked up a second successful contract.
The union reached a deal with G&K Laundry, which it now covers as a result of its parent union HERE merging with the textile workers union, UNITE.
