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Major Casinos, Union Finish Initial Meetings24 April 2002LAS VEGAS, Nevada – As reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal: “MGM Mirage on Tuesday became the last of the Strip's big three casino operating companies to meet with Culinary Local 226 officials to begin contract negotiations for Las Vegas' unionized housekeepers and food-service workers. ”Culinary officials last week had their initial contract talks with Park Place Entertainment executives; they met Monday for the first time with Mandalay Resort Group brass. ”…`These were very preliminary meetings, each side made some proposals, but it's too early to say how things are going,’ said Jim Arnold, the local's secretary-treasurer. ”…Culinary Local 226 has more than 50,000 members. ”The key issue during this year's contract talks is expected to be workers' health and medical benefits, Arnold said. ”Workers and their dependents are covered by the union's health plan, which is funded by the companies in accordance with the existing contracts. ”The workers pay nothing for the coverage, but are responsible for co-pays for doctor visits and prescriptions, Arnold said. ”…Arnold said many Culinary workers were upset about a full-page advertisement Mandalay Resort Group placed in Sunday's Review-Journal. ”The ad noted that the company's union housekeepers have worked 16 million hours during the current labor agreement. During that agreement, the ad noted, no housekeeper filed a grievance in connection with their workloads, and none were disciplined or fired for failure to meet the company's production standards. ”…Workload issues are a key contract issue for housekeepers, many of whom have been saddled with larger rooms and more rooms to clean, Arnold said…” |