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Circus Circus Employees Reinstated

LAS VEGAS - Mandalay Resort Group executives have reinstated three Culinary union workers suspended by Circus Circus after they were involved in a May 3 skirmish with security guards during a union rally in the employee dining room, union officials said.

Kitchen worker Al Williams, who was suspended after Circus Circus security fractured his wrist and separated his shoulder, was allowed to return to work.

"I get my cast off of my arm on June 7 and I'll go back to work then," Williams said Thursday. Williams was cited for trespassing by Las Vegas police officers after the dining-room incident.

Property executives have not agreed to reimburse him for the income he missed while suspended, he said.

Circus Circus housekeeper Maria Paniagua and buffet worker Kathy Ward, also suspended after the fracas, were allowed to return to work early this week, union officials said.

Both received back pay for the week of work they missed while suspended, union officials said.

Mandalay Resort Group Senior Vice President Mike Sloan declined to comment on the personnel matters. Mandalay Resort Group Human Resources Director Kit Turner did not return Friday phone calls seeking comment.

Union officials say that the reinstatements do not resolve the May 3 melee.

"It's hard to have a sense of satisfaction when employees were attacked in the employee cafeteria," said Glen Arnodo, the union's political director.

Union workers claim they were passing out leaflets and chanting pro-union slogans in the employee dining room when they were rushed by a group of security guards.

Culinary members have often held similar rallies at Circus Circus and other Strip hotel-casinos, union officials said.

Several workers were injured as guards pushed female housekeepers out of the way and removed Williams, a chief shop steward, from a chair he was standing on as he led a group of workers in pro-union chants, Williams said.

Arnodo said that the union intends to pursue back pay for Williams and the reversal of punishments meted out to the suspended trio.

He said Mandalay Resort Group should immediately:

-Turn over any videotapes they have showing the May 3 clash and Williams' detention.

-Give Williams back pay for the time he missed.

-Provide counseling services to those involved in the clash.

Circus Circus security officers told police that they ordered Williams to leave the property several times, but Williams refused to leave.

Sloan last week called the incident "unfortunate," but the workers said the company has yet to directly apologize to them. "There's been tension building inside that hotel for some time," said Ted Pappageorge, Culinary 226 department head for Mandalay Resort Group properties. Pappageorge said the union intends to file grievances to overturn Williams' suspension and written warnings for misconduct placed in Paniagua and Ward's personnel files.

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