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Experts: Positive Signs in Downtown Casino Talks

"There's discussion and there's movement, and that's a good thing," downtown casino lawyer Gregg Kamer said Wednesday, adding that his clients don't want a strike.

Kamer represents the Las Vegas Club, Western, El Cortez, Plaza and Binion's Horseshoe in contract negotiations with the unions.

One of the positive steps Kamer was referring to was Culinary Secretary-Treasurer D. Taylor's request that Boyd Gaming Corp. Chairman Bill Boyd attempt to get other downtown property owners to join a prospective contract with Boyd properties Main Street Station and the Fremont.

Boyd executives believe they are close to settling contract terms for the Stardust and have said they're making progress with union negotiators on terms for their two downtown properties.

Boyd spokesman Rob Stillwell said Wednesday that company executives plan, if they reach a downtown deal, to try and pitch the terms of that deal to the other downtown property owners with the goal of averting a strike.

Boyd executives are slated to meet union negotiators Sunday morning. If the company reaches a deal with the unions, that would leave just a week to settle the remaining downtown contracts.

The remaining three Strip properties - the Stardust, the Barbary Coast and the Sahara - without new five-year contracts are expected to ink deals similar to those signed by other Strip properties.

Contracts with the Barbary Coast and the Sahara are expected to be finalized soon.

"It's literally just a matter of crossing the t's and dotting the i's," Barbary Coast General Manager Michael Gaughan Jr., said Wednesday as he observed maids competing in the Hospitality Challenge at the Las Vegas International Hotel & Restaurant Show. "We're 99.9 percent done."

Kamer and Castaways lawyer Sal Gugino are scheduled to meet with union negotiators this morning at the Riviera.

Fitzgeralds executives are slated to meet union negotiators Tuesday.

The property's bosses decided earlier this week to replace Kamer as the property's negotiator after Fitzgeralds workers complained about the lawyer's tough rhetoric and the terms of a contract proposal Kamer submitted last week .

Mike Kelly, chief operating officer and chief financial officer for Fitzgeralds parent Majestic Investor Holdings, said he'll take the lead in negotiations.

Kamer will continue to advise Fitzgeralds on contract terms, but won't participate in negotiations with union members.

Kelly said he's sure his property will reach a deal by July 1. A downtown strike would hurt properties that have already settled contracts as well as those suffering a work stoppage, experts agree.

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