Union Workers Rally in Las Vegas
Hospitality union heads into contract talks with major hotel chains
By Heidi Genoist and Lisa Plummer -- Tradeshow Week, 4/2/2007
Las Vegas—As one of the hospitality industry's biggest unions, in the tradeshow industry's No. 1 city, heads into contract negotiations with major hotel-casino chains, leaders staged a rally that featured high-profile politicians and drew thousands of workers who said they were ready to strike if necessary.
The Culinary Workers Union Local 226 in Las Vegas said more than 7,000 members showed up for the rally at the union headquarters the evening of March 23. They were drawn, in part, by the impressive roster of guest speakers, which included three presidential hopefuls: U.S. Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
Presidential candidates have been making more frequent appearances in Nevada this year than in past years because of the state's Democratic caucus being moved to an earlier timeframe in the election process (mid-January, between the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary). Republicans are considering a similar move.
Politics aside, the rally came at a significant time for both the local union and its parent.
Local 226 is a member of UNITE HERE, the national union that formed in 2004 when the Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE) joined with the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Intl. (HERE). HERE (not including UNITE) claims about 260,000 members at 111 local unions nationwide, of which the 60,000 members in Las Vegas are an important component.
On its Web site, the national organization describes Local 226 as "one of the fastest growing private sector local unions in the U.S."
Although the Las Vegas union has yet to break into some important convention hotel companies, such as Las Vegas Sands and Station Casinos, it does have contracts with MGM Mirage, Boyd Gaming and Harrah's Entertainment, which control tens of thousands of rooms and millions of square feet of meeting and exhibit space in Las Vegas alone.
The hospitality industry is watching negotiations of the MGM contract, underway now, with particular interest. At the rally, union officials said the outcome of this process would be the barometer of things to come.
They were indirectly referring to the upcoming expiration of UNITE HERE contracts around the nation. In addition, union members at the rally interviewed by Tradeshow Week were not afraid to use the "S" word, pointing out that they were prepared to strike if they didn't get to keep the 40-hour work week, health insurance, pension and other benefits they currently have.
A key point is the union's right to card checks, which allow organizers to approach and sign up potential members. Local 226 seeks to guarantee this right will be extended to new properties built by the companies with which it has contracts, for instance, MGM Mirage's 4,000-room City Center and Boyd's 5,300-room Echelon Resort.
MGM and Boyd declined to be interviewed. Spokesmen for the companies said it would be inappropriate to comment during the negotiation process. Harrah's Entertainment could not be reached by press time.
Local 226 members attending the rally said they thought a strike would have a huge impact.
"We believe in our union and our work. If we don't mean business, then we have nothing," said John Cooper, a banquet cook at the Rio All-Suite Casino Hotel. "Solidarity is the key to holding this together. We want to keep our dream, our benefits, and continue to do a good job, the jobs we've been trained for. We're here to show we're all together, and we're a force to be reckoned with."
Clinton, as well as attendees, made reference to the union's successful six-and-a-half year strike against the Frontier Hotel and Casino in the late 1990s. Deemed the longest union strike in U.S. history, the Frontier strike resulted in employees getting their jobs and benefits back, and no one crossed the picket line.
"We fought before. We'll fight again," said Larissa Valle, a food server at the Rio.
"You know how they say, 'What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas'?" Clinton asked. "Well, whatever happens with you shouldn't stay in Vegas. Your example should be spread across the country."
The largest tradeshow scheduled to take place in Las Vegas June 1, the union's deadline for new contracts, is Reed Exhibition's JCK Show, Las Vegas/ The Jewelers' Circular Keystone Show, Las Vegas, No. 28 on the most recent TSW 200. Although it takes place at the Sands, a non-union hotel, JCK draws several other jewelry events to the city at the same time, creating an industry week that spans many hotels.
Another show that could be affected is The Truck Show, scheduled June 7–9 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
"I'll touch base with my contacts in Las Vegas," said Alan Sims, executive director of the Great American Trucking Show. Randall-Reilly Publishing, which owns GATS, recently acquired The Truck Show, and will be producing it this year with help from seller Intl. Trade Show Management. "It could certainly affect us, so I will be watching (the situation) carefully," Sims said.
