OCTOBER 2007
(Post #197) From an Extra-Board Dealer
10-30-07:
hi
I would like to know when they will be fair and promote those people that are in
line for years to get a greatius spot as a Full time CAESARS PALACE dealer, we
wait years just before with could apply for a job and been dual rate, you don't
think is our time to get a full time job?
They don't think we have life and bill to pay, or just been fair and give us
what we been working for?
I hope in a answer if some one know some and if anyone cares about it.
Thank so much
RESPONSE:
Thanks for visiting! We can't say when anyone will be
promoted, and at this point we can't say who. Hopefully, when we get the Union
voted in we can resolve issues just as these! We believe in Seniority, as do
most Dealers at Caesars Palace, including/especially the new Dealers.
WE DO CARE and this is why we are working very hard to get
everyone to sign A-Cards and vote "Yes" for the Union when the time
to vote comes!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #196) From a Full-Time Dealer
10-28-07:
For all of those that didn't go to meeting with Mr. Jenkins,
let us clarify who he is. He is the guy that fired all the cocktail waitress at
the Rio and made them re-apply, gave 6 month contracts and had to meet certain
standards to keep the job such as weight etc.
So for all of you older men and women, look around at the new
hires, not just in the PCD pit but in all the pits. We are being replaced
steadily and some cannot see the writing on the wall.
Please, do not trust this company, stand up and help us
protect ourselves. Don't talk people out of signing cards. It is imperative that
we unite. Please think about what is happening right under your nose.
SWING SHIFT WAKE-UP! DAY SHIFT WAKE-UP! Everyday I see new
young female extra boards in the main pit! THEY WILL TAKE YOUR JOB AND MINE IF
YOU DON'T HELP US PROTECT THEM!!!!! SIGN YOUR CARD TODAY!!!
And for you young people, they will dictate your appearance
as they already have to some PCD gals and you will have no protection if you
don't help win this battle. Let them leave the sex themed thrills to the clubs
and the professional gaming to professionals.
RESPONSE:
Please read the above message from the Webmaster and click the
link provided there to read the article from the RJ and what Mr. Jenkins thinks
about the "gaming environment".
We are ALL living in the MOST IMPORTANT DAYS of our careers
RIGHT NOW! Put aside football, baseball, bar-b-ques, weekend trips, etc... and
get this done! It may require a little effort and time right now, but what
happens during the next few months is going to affect the rest of your lives!
SECURE YOUR FUTURE NOW while you have the
chance!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #195) From a Mirage Dealer
10-28-07:
Dealers need to realize that it isn't going to get any better
and we need someone to represent us. Some dealers are so afraid of different
that they will regret it later if they don't sign up for the union. Please don't
give up on us TWU.
RESPONSE:
We guarantee you, and every Dealer in Las Vegas, the TWU will
NOT give up on us! They are here for the duration!
Dealers, do NOT give up on the TWU! If anyone kills the Union
drive, it will be the Dealers, NOT the TWU.
They are spending millions on us as we speak. Las Vegas
Dealers WILL be organized!
EVERY Dealer, not just the Caesars Palace Dealers, GET YOUR
CARDS IN NOW! Contact the TWU or the website and things will get started at
your property too.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #194) From a Poker Dealer
10-28-07:
I'm a poker dealer and have a few comments about our current
situation.
First, we just had our first Caesar's Classic Poker
Tournament and just like the WSOP, the Floor men are awarded 30% of our tips for
their "HARD WORK". Now, I'm not sure if this is already the same as
what happened at The Wynn, but it appears to me that it is.
Second, the current Manager, who has NO poker experience (and
believe me, it shows) put in affect a new Variance policy for our chip banks.
This policy is a joke. It allows for dealers to be given points based on the
amount of the overage/shortage in any given chip bank. These points do not reset
until that dealer has gone 90 days without an infraction. So, unless you're
superhuman and don't make mistakes, it's inevitable that you will be fired. I
have asked dozens of dealers and of those only one has gone more than 90 days
without an infraction. If this continues, all of the current dealers will at
some time be fired.
There is double standards everywhere in the room. Certain
dealers, who are liked, have their Variances "Overlooked" by the
floor-persons awhile others are punished to the full extent of the policy.
Lastly, our current manager, in a vain attempt to impress his
superiors has discontinued CALL liquor to our guests. Our guests are only
allowed to order well drinks for playing at Caesars' Palace, while they can go
to the poker room at the Orleans, or any other place for that matter, and get
what they want. I know at least a dozen players who simply won't play at Caesars
any longer due to this change. This guy is hated by all, but no one will say
anything because those who speak their mind have either gotten fired or written
up. His nick name is Little Hitler. He has been patted on the back for
"turning the Room around and making...???
RESPONSE:
Your Feedback was cut off for some reason, sorry. If you would
like to finish it, please submit the remainder and we will post it.
Sounds like things are kind of "ugly" in the Poker
Room. Poker Dealers should also send in A-Cards ASAP before it gets worse. We
really can't comment on the "procedures" in your room, as we have very
little experience with poker rooms. If someone from Poker would like to step up
and help, that would be great!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #193) From a Harrah's Supervisor
10-27-07:
I work at Harrah's as a supervisor and I stopped here to
check some things out. I think to be fair, you need to give ALL of the facts. On
your points page, you failed to mention that if you call in 4 consecutive days,
it's only 1.5 points. So, in theory, that could offset the 4 free call-ins that
you used to have. That's not too bad of a deal. I support your right to rally
the dealers and push for a union, and I think you make many good points.
However, please give all of the facts, even if they don't help your cause.
RESPONSE:
Thanks for your feedback! We try to give all of the facts. Actually we have
the entire Attendance Points policy (
Page
1,
Page
2,
Page
3) on the website so everyone can read the actual policy.
That is as factual as it gets. What has been given are examples.
We had the basically 3 different Attendance Policies within one month. The
old one, the first change, then the second change (an example on how fast
they can change policy when they want to). We tried to keep up with the
quick changes as best we could, but as you may know, the website is quite
large and it is easy for us to get sidetracked with new things happening
every day.
As for what the Readers write in about (there was a recent post about
points), that is basically out of our control. We post every Feedback we
have received.
We think the point was, we used to be able to call in sick 3 times (not 4
as stated in your feedback) in a year and receive ZERO points, and we also
used to be able to call in 3 consecutive days and receive only 1 point.
Granted, we can now call in up to 4 days and receive 1.5 points, but that is
2 days less and .5 points more. Also, if we are out more than 3 days, aren't
we required to have a Doctor's approval to return to work at that point
(over 3 days)?
Not everyone is sick multiple days. Under the new policy if someone is
sick three non-consecutive days throughout the year, they will receive 3
points (one for each absence). Under the old policy, they would have
received ZERO points (3 "free" sick-calls per year). That IS a
very big difference.
Bottom line is, the new attendance policy is much worse, especially for
Dealers who are within 2 feet from the coughing, sneezing, smoking,
breathing customers faces for hours on end.
As many readers have basically stated, they hire us only to look
for ways to fire us. In the past if someone was sick or had some personal
issues, we were told, "No problem. We have you covered. Take the
time you need and get it worked out. See you when you get back."
Those days are gone. Times changed and so must we.
Actually, we are more concerned with job security, toke security, working
conditions and benefits more than anything else.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #192) From a Full-Time Dealer 10-26-07:
Once again, we would like to thank Harrah's wonderful
management for helping our cause! Thank You! As usual, the tone was arrogant,
unprepared, no definite answers, no guarantees, and I'm sure Mr. Jenkins would
have rather have been anywhere else but in meetings with us pitiful underlings.
We are not an uneducated lot Mr. Jenkins. We chose to do what we do, but that
does not mean that a great many of us are not college graduates and if not,
certainly streetwise. We are not in California but there sure was a lot of smoke
blowing up our a**. We don't trust you! Now a lot more of our fellow dealers do
not trust you. Please have some more meetings because right after, we get
another round of Authorization Cards. Thanks again. LOL!
RESPONSE:
And to think, these guys are getting paid the "big
bucks" and get the "big bonuses"! Talk about ripping a company
off! They actually are getting paid? This has got to crush their CSA scores!
What, low 50's maybe?
Yes, the cards coming in have nearly tripled the daily rate in
the last week! Keep up the great work you guys,
your making is so much easier for the Dealers to decide! Who needs
"in-house organizers" when we have all of you working for us?!
When the Reader writes, "We chose to do what we do,
but that does not mean that a great many of us are not college graduates and
if not, certainly streetwise." How true!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #191) From a Swing Shift Dealer 10-26-07:
I was at the meeting last night and if that doesn't convince
everyone that we need a union, then we deserve what will happens to us. Mr.
Jenkins said they (Harrah's) would never take our tokes for redistribution to
the floor because it would greatly alter game protection. "The MAIN job of
Floor Supervision is GAME PROTECTION." What a crock of s..t that is at
Caesars. So if you believe that they won't take our tokes just look at the game
protection we have and you can easily see that Jenkins is full of s..t. We need
a union as bad as a fish needs water. Vote TWU and protect yourself!
RESPONSE:
Game protection? What's that? Oh yeah, we remember, back a few
years when the Floor had no more than 4 games to watch, and when they were not
rating every player with a $20 bill, and when we had Pit Managers in every pit
and Boxmen on every craps table, before checks were being snatched off our
roulette wheels every month or so. That's right, we remember now. We think
someone has there head in a small tight dark hole.
Oh, by the way, Mr. Jenkins likes to boast about his 11 years
with the Culinary Union. WOW! He was in a Union before he is who he is now? We
know what he did to the girls at the Rio who were NOT Union. We guess he doesn't
like "scab" workers. Fired them all he did! Without a Union, guess
what we all are? We need to organize NOW!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #190) From a Palace Court Dealer 10-26-07:
I was not able to go to the meeting last night as I was off
the night before and didn't know about it. But this is what I gathered from the
whole thing:
First of all at 8:00 in the main pit there was only 5 dealers
to take out that whole area, no buzz, no medallions. Someone from Palace Court
finally walked by at 8:00 and said go to your games, when we asked about the
medallions, they looked confused, like they weren't sure what to do. At 8:10 the
day shift dealers were still on the games, except for the five of us from swing.
Apparently, with all the organizing about these meetings, they forgot to figure
out who was going to deal the games. So day shift waited patiently for someone
to come relieve them, as no one even told them what time they would be getting
out.
Finally at about 8:15 swing shift starting showing up from
the meeting! Apparently whatever responsibilities we have immediately after work
is not important, just as always, keep us as long as you want and don't schedule
or even tell us. Unheard of some of the things this place does!
Then the swing dealers started talking about the meeting and
what a waste of time it was. They said that they asked lots of questions and not
one of them was answered. He kept saying he would "look into it and get
back to us".
Somewhere along into the meeting he told the dealers that he
had better things to do at 7:30 at night, and when asked about the BJ rules, he
said that he could change them back anytime, but its not going to happen
tonight.
Basically everyone I heard talking and talked too afterwards
said what a waste of time it was, he didn't answer one question with a firm
answer, and even seemed unprofessional and like a corporate millionaire who
really wasn't interested in our petty problems, and even quite annoyed that we
would be making problems for him.
When asked about no seniority, he said he thought we liked
being hired, and had other things being done on the merit system. When Mr.
Jenkins said he thought the dealers liked doing things on the merit system, we
told him no, he asked why, and the dealers said because if something happened
and they laid off, they could pick and choose whoever they wanted, and that it wouldn't
be fair. He said he would "look into it".
Also there was a memo from J.W. about the toke vote, it was
on the wall by the toke books, next to the door the smokers use. Not in a place
where all the dealers could see it.
Basically things have gotten worse for the dealers over the
years, they hide things from us and lie to us, tell us they will "look into
it", and then nothing changes and even gets worse.
They want us to wait for the Supreme Court ruling so they can
take our tokes, that was the jest of it. If dealers don't make a stand today! We
are done!
RESPONSE:
When the Reader writes, "Somewhere along into the
meeting he told the dealers that he had better things to do at 7:30 at
night..." we gave you our thoughts as to why the meetings were not held
on Saturdays, when the largest percentage of Dealers would be at work, in the Union
Busters section of this site (basically because they are Mon-Fri
9-5 people and do not want to be bothered by us on their weekends). Sounds as if
we are just a "thorn in their side" and they are trying to pull it out
so they can carry on with their fat bonus checks earned from the 16% increase in
revenues!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #189) From a 21 Dealer 10-26-07:
They say the definition of insanity is "Doing the same
thing over and over again and expecting a different result".
We have tried 'their' way for years and when push comes to shove, 'they' always
revert to their old ways, leaving us vulnerable and at 'their' mercy. I say,
maybe we have to take a chance on the union, and things may not be so perfect at
first, but at least we will be going in the right direction for a change. We
have been lied to and manipulated one too many times for my liking. I am ready
to stop being 'insane' hoping that they will be forth right and treat us well.
Theirs' are lies. Union all the way for me. Thanks for opening up my eyes!
RESPONSE:
When the Reader writes, "...we have to take a chance on
the union, and things may not be so perfect at first, but at least we will be
going in the right direction for a change." EXACTLY RIGHT!
We hope that many "see the light" as you have.
Without a Union we have no option and are like "pets"
waiting to be fed. Maybe our master will feed us today, maybe they won't. We
"hope" they will. Let's all quit acting like animals sitting at the
masters chair at diner time and stand up like the decent humans we are and get
what we deserve, not their table scraps!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #188) From a 21 Dealer 10-26-07:
In regards to managements latest memo that we now will be
allowed to vote on our previously passed toke issues... Could this not be just
an attempt by management to take a "straw vote" on how strong we
stand?
VOTE TWU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RESPONSE:
First of all, let us reiterate that management
"allowing" us to vote on previously passed issues concerning our
by-laws is management STILL trying to control our tokes! As everyone reads the
posts following this one you will see that over and over again.
As for ho "strong" we are? We are very strong! And, as
long as every Dealer does NOT fall for their BS, like we start from zero in
contract negotiations (PURE BS LIE! Check out the NLRB Act), we will remain
strong and get even stronger!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #187) From a 21 Dealer 10-26-07:
Mr. Selesner,
Why was S....... J.... allowed to take us down to 3 sick days a year when every
other department gets 6, even though we have PTO time in our banks? We work
directly with the public and are exposed to every kind of germ that you can
imagine. How can we stay healthy? Then there are the toxins and cigarette smoke
to contend with. Why do you wait until the threat of a union to treat us as well
as any other department? We are your front line, the face of Caesars. Why are
you so against us being union if you plan on treating us fairly?
RESPONSE:
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #186) From a
Caesars Atlantic City Dealer
10-25-07:
Hi,
I am a 24 year dealer at Caesars A.C. and a member of the Bargaining Committee and I work day shift. Most if not all the dealers that I talk to on a daily basis are still strong in their support of the Union. We know that Harrah's Entertainment was not going to make things better without the Union. I have not come across anyone that is sorry. It has not cost us anything at this point and
some things have improved. All this being said, we know we have a long road ahead but it beats the alternative. I will send your e-mail to a few dealers for their thoughts.
RESPONSE:
Thanks for visiting and for the Feedback!
We are very happy to hear from the AC Dealers that they are NOT
sorry for voting in the Union! Put that rumor to rest everyone in Las Vegas!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #185) From a 21 Dealer
10-25-07:
Can we include the floor at Caesars also?
RESPONSE:
The Floor can form their own Union. To include them with us
would get complicated. They would want/need things negotiated that Dealers do
not want/need and vice-versa. We would be more than happy to help them through
the process though if they get someone from their ranks to step up by contacting
either us or the TWU.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #184) From a Full-Time Dealer
10-25-07:
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! T.W.U.
I think I can honestly say with your support we can put our darkest days in the
past. Caesars redistributed insurance packages today with lower rates. (
Although still higher than last year and unfair compared to other employees)
Thank you T.W.U for your presence! We will take anything we can get every dollar
counts these days.
As far as the other silly little "feel good
tactics", please do not insult our intelligence management.
I am however very upset about this mandatory vote on our
by-laws. These people just don't get it. STAY OUT OF OUR TOKES! MR. J.W don't
play stupid, you know how it works. A petition must be signed by a majority and
then a vote. If we need help with our issues we will ask, but that's if you
really want to give back control. If you are serious about that, then just put
things back the way they were before and give us a legal binding contract
stating that the dealer tips are their property and they control them.
We would also like a written legal opinion from HARRAH'S CORP
stating that the tip redistribution at WYNN was illegal and immoral. That would
make us proud of you. Remember everything must be in writing.
To all Caesars dealers, most of us have been though
organizing before, and some of us have been fooled by feel good tactics only to
see things get worse when a drive dies.
THIS DRIVE WILL NOT DIE!
OUR FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT!
THE TIDE HAS TURNED!
LETS RIDE THIS WAVE ALL THE WAY TO A CONTRACT!
THEN LETS HAVE THE BIGGEST PARTY THIS TOWN HAS EVER SEEN!
RESPONSE:
What everyone must remember is that it is the Union drive
getting our stuff for us, nothing or nobody else! It is NOT management's
"pawns" who have done this, it is all of you starting to stand up!
Management sees us starting to rise, and they are trying to tell us everything
is okay and they will take care of it. Don't be fooled! They just want to make
us all sit back down and believe they will handle it. WRONG! Keep rising until
we are ALL on our feet!
When the Reader writes, "To all Caesars dealers, most of
us have been though organizing before, and some of us have been fooled by feel
good tactics only to see things get worse when a drive dies." They are
EXACTLY right! This drive must NOT die! We will get what we deserve from this as
long as we all stay together! We will get better wages, benefits and working
conditions, but ONLY if we stay strong and are not fooled by their
"illusions" of caring for us. Did they care about us six months ago?
NO THEY DID NOT!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #183) From a Full-Time Dealer
10-25-07:
I would like to use this forum to thank the PCD dealers and
part time dealers who have already signed TWU cards and hope that the rest will
soon follow.
We must all be told of how Harrah's laid off all the cocktail waitress at the
Rio they where NOT in the union, and replaced them with Bev-a-tainers who are on
short term contract and can be replaced at will.
I would like to see all of the PCD girls and part timers
dealing at Caesars for as long as they wish and to be able to transition into
regular uniforms at their choosing rather than being shown the back door by
management.
RESPONSE:
We too would like to thank all the PCD girls and part-time
Dealers! We share your vision!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #182) From a Dealer 10-25-07:
An open letter to J.... B..., Harrah's CSA director,
I am mad as hell that you actually said a beverage server (as hard working as
these fellow UNION employees are) has more customer contact than a dealer! Or
why you would chose to arrogantly announce this in our break room during a time
when our very livelihood is under attack is mind boggling!
No matter what your flawed “scientific” CSA study shows,
we know we have more one on one, eye to eye contact than any other employee in
Caesars Palace period! We know our players, their spouses, their families and
their friends. We are the ones that ask if they are staying with us and if their
room is satisfactory. We help them in choosing a restaurant, a show and even
help with reservations.
You probably never considered that the games we deal took
thousands of hours to learn and years to perfect! Or that most of us deal
multiple games “fast and flawlessly”! You have no idea that the thousands of
transactions we make every single day can add up to more than a million dollars
per dealer! You probably aren’t aware that we do all this while delivering a
product that is statistically guaranteed not to “meet or exceed a customers
expectations” but, our CSA scores will be judged with the same criteria as a
beverage server!
J...., you have shown us once again that management does not
respect the incredible job we do day in and day out and why we need the
protection of a union. You single handily swayed some fence sitters votes for
the union and for that we must thank you and I’m sure Mr. Selesner will too!
RESPONSE:
What more can we say about this one?
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #181) From an ATLANTIC CITY Dealer
10-25-07:
Hello to my brothers and sisters out west. My name is Jimmy
Pitts, I'm the dealer in Atlantic City who called the UAW into town. Why did I
put my name here? Because Harrah's has known about me and my web site for nearly
a year already and I am not afraid of them. Since I started I have already
gotten raises for many of my fellow dealers, they are now offering an HMO, and
our annual raise went from 3% to 25 cents (like it was 20 years ago). I know my
rights and am not afraid to exercise them.
I understand that there are rumors circulating that we are sorry that we are
organizing. Nothing could be further from the truth. Caesars is in
negotiations, Bally's was in appeal by Harrah's management and all of their
charges were over-ruled (management can appeal once more, we don't know if they
will only 1% of local rulings are ever overturned) and are awaiting
certification. Tropicana dealers and dual-rates are certified and recently
elected a strong bargaining committee. We should hear about our charges against
Trump Marina in the coming weeks. We are signing cards at all 11 casinos in AC.
We have a Union Hall and just signed a 2 year extension on the lease with an
option to buy.
Our motto here is, UNITED WE BARGAIN, DIVIDED WE BEG!
STAY STRONG, STAND TALL AND VOTE YES FOR DIGNITY, RESPECT AND A VOICE IN YOUR
OWN FUTURE!
RESPONSE:
Thanks for your Feedback Jimmy! We are sure that the Dealers in
A.C. will be forever grateful for all that you have done and are doing.
Thanks for helping to clear up the "rumors" being
spread here about you guys!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #180) From a Dayshift Dealer
10-25-07:
Remember when the president and the casino manager knew you
and went out of their way to say
hello?
But, as we all know, this is no longer the case. Our
president, Gary Selesner, has never once come
down from his ivory tower to meet any of us, UNTIL we
started talking about a union! Our casino
manager, J.... W..., thinks his one vote on our toke issues
is more important than 500 of ours UNTIL
we started talking union! When someone became ill they would
ask other dealers how he or she was
doing and would welcome them back when they recovered. Not
any more. Now, it seems they want
you to exceed you 6 month leave so that you can be
terminated. When we lost a member of our
Caesars family you could count on our president or casino
manager to be at the funeral to show their
support, it was just the classy thing to do. But when we lost
one of our day shift dealers a month ago,
not one person from Caesars management showed... but at the
anti union rally D... A.... was rude
enough to mention that our friend was too stubborn to go to
the doctor. Real classy D...! Now that we
know Caesars Palace, as well as this industry, has been
changed by uncaring corporations and its
greedy people, what can we do? We can stand up or our rights,
just like our sister property Caesars
Atlantic City, and vote for a union too!
RESPONSE:
The comment by D... A.... was as cold as it gets! HEARTLESS!!!!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #179) From a 21 Dealer 10-25-07:
I was given a pin button by a IHO and I had it on my lapel
last night. I liked it because it was smaller and I really didn't have to worry
about a conversation with a customer about the pin. I also noticed that other
dealers were looking for and noticing people wearing buttons and pins. This is a
excellent idea.
Also I want to add a comment that I heard a Assistant Shift
Manager say in the break room awhile back. He told a group of dealers during a
regular conversation that J.... W..., Our casino manager was such a vindictive
person that he pities anyone that crosses him. All the more reason that we need
a union. We don't need a dictator type of person with a God syndrome attitude
running anything. This isn't 1972, and we shouldn't have to come to work and
worry about our job because of a a..hole like J.... W..., or the next dictator
that comes in.
I hope we can show some solidarity on the buttons and pins.
RESPONSE:
More pins and buttons are on order. We would like to see EVERY
DEALER at Caesars Palace wearing either a pin or button. What a statement!
When the Reader writes, "We don't need a dictator type
of person with a God syndrome attitude running anything." We couldn't
agree more! We MUST protect ourselves with a CBA! Otherwise, ANYONE could be
subject to being "targeted" at any time for any reason. We MUST stop
the "FEAR" we must all endure as we come in to work!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #178) From a Full-Time Dealer
10-25-07:
Now it starts... J.W. has given the dealers committee the
right (?) to vote back in sick tokes, hospital tokes, and Death Benefit Tokes. I
don't know when the ballets will be out but the committee is waiting for a memo
as they should ....PLEASE everyone don't let this stop you from signing a CARD.
as fast as these things are given back they can be taken AWAY !!!!! A VOTE YES
for these things will show J.W. that he should have never taken (or had the
right too) our decisions on OUR tips.
RESPONSE:
We have a set procedure within our by-laws outlining how ANY
"by-law vote" is to be taken. IF management will be FORCING us to
bypass our procedures, they are STILL controlling our tokes!
What everyone must understand is this, they are giving back what
was ours in the first place. Just because they are giving things back, that does
not prevent them from taking them away again somewhere down the road. Look what
it has taken to get back what was ours! Will we be forced to go through all this
all over again if/when new management comes in? How many "chances" do
we give them? We think we have given them more than enough chances over the last
40 years! Now it is time to SECURE our future and ensure we NEVER have to go
through this again!
Get your cards in and VOTE UNION YES!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #177) From a Mandalay Bay Dealer
10-23-07:
I am a dealer at Mandalay Bay and this message is for all of
you and all dealers. You must see what is starting, first your insurance and
then what is next. What does happen to your insurance in 2009? You have to be
asking yourselves this question, I know I am. I have a family and I need my
insurance, I need my tokes and I need my job. What I don't need is someone
telling me to fill out a health survey and telling me I need to take action on 1
of 3 categories to help me. That is your definition not mine. And by the way
have you even looked at who is running this survey, it's an outside company
hired by MGM. Why do they need my info or yours. It is time we stand together.
After all you are all my family. It does not matter if you have a disagreement
with another dealer the fact is you spend just as much time with your coworkers
or more. I know in my home we have disagreements everyone does. But as a family
we need to unite together. Please look at this site and read it. Look what is
happening to the dealers. All of us everywhere. This union is run by dealers.
That means me and you. Like it says STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS. Print a card send
it in. I am and I hope you do too.
RESPONSE:
Come on "Non-Caesars Palace Dealers"! Get your cards
in too!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #176) From a 21 Dealer 10-23-07:
Awesome job you guys have done with this drive!!! I just
wanted to say THANK YOU!! Now I feel that there is hope for my future as a
dealer. Everybody in the break rooms are talking union, and they are saying we
are going to win this Hands Down! Everyone I talked to today said they sent in a
card! And now they are talking about the issues, instead of cowering in fear and
pretending like there's no elephant in our living room! I cant wait until we
have a vote and secure what we have and try to fight for fairness and equality,
better wages and benefits. THANK YOU again. Oh and by the way, I sent in my card
a few weeks ago. Come on PCD, we need you too, this is your future as a dealer!
RESPONSE:
Thanks! Congratulate ALL Dealers who have sent in their cards
though, not just us.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #175) From a Wynn Dealer
10-23-07:
Hey guys it's the Wynn dealer again,
I am on this site everyday and read all of the writings. I have been through the
exact same thing you are going through and think you are doing an incredible
job. I just wanted to hit the topic again about tokes. For the minority that has
it in their head that they can put it in writing that they won't take your tokes
always remember that without a contract they can always change their minds.
If
you think that only Steve (the devil) Wynn is the only one that will do this and
that no one will follow, remember that Steve Wynn is the one that years ago
started to put tokes on a paycheck. How many dealers get toke envelopes anymore?
Everyone followed and started doing tokes on paychecks. Steve Wynn made assigned
seating at the shows. Got rid of the Matre'D's. How many shows have Matre'D's.
Everyone followed.
Now can you still say that the casinos won't follow this
issue of taking the tokes to pay the floorpeople? Don't be ridiculous. You need
to stop them before they can. Sign a card and vote yes and you can stop them in
their tracks.
The Wynn dealers will be there to show their support you when you
get close. Stay Strong and stay together. Remember they will promise, but they
can always take it back without a contract.
Good Luck!!!!!!
RESPONSE:
Very good points!
HERE COME THE ROMANS!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #174) From a Swing Shift Dealer
10-23-07:
Has anybody been following the story in the papers about
Harrah's not getting permits for remodeling at The Rio and at Harrah's. If they
don't bother to do these basic things to protect their guests, proper plans and
permits for remodeling, can you imagine anything that would be beyond their
capability for cost cutting.
We have already seen some of their moves and if we
don't vote for the TWU I don't even want to consider the consequences. We must
protect ourselves and our livelihoods.
Vote UNION now
RESPONSE:
By not filing for the proper permits while remodeling, in
essence they broke the law. That should speak volumes about who they really are!
To cheap to obey the law and instead try to pull a "Wynn" and break
it!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #173) From an Ex-Hilton Dealer
10-23-07:
I'm a 15 yr dealer currently with Mandalay Bay. I worked for
Mr. J.W. at the LV Hilton when we went through a union vote a few years back. As
I'm sure you've learned, he can't be trusted. The man has no decency.
Stay strong and you will succeed. Do not be swayed by professional union busters
(they're coming) and talk of 'things will be different now'. Focus on the truly
important points (not EDR food quality, ect...) and don't let the campaign
become a gripe venue with no unified direction. Good luck-countless dealers
beyond your property are pulling for, and counting on you.
RESPONSE:
Thanks for visiting our website and for your Feedback!
We absolutely agree when the Reader writes, "...don't
let the campaign become a gripe venue with no unified direction."
We know the Dealers of Nevada are watching us and we are not
going to let them down. We are hoping they are starting to form their own Committees
RIGHT NOW. To all non-Caesars Dealers reading, know this: You MUST get your
Drives started NOW. DO NOT wait on us at CP or The Wynn to get contracts! We
will get them.
You must ALL realize if you do NOT have a petition with the NLRB
filed BEFORE the Nevada Supreme Court rules on the Wynn case that IF they rule
in favor of Wynn, you all stand to lose your tips for redistribution that very
minute! Once you lose them, it will be VERY difficult to get them back through
negotiations. ACT NOW!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #172) From a Graveyard Dealer
10-22-07:
To Our Managers on Grave,
Please remember and know that us
wanting to be represented in an organized union is NOT PERSONAL! Unfortunately,
we have seen too many of our managers come and go. We have seen our supervisors
income taken away, bonus' reduced, overloaded on work, and being held
accountable for situations that you cannot do anything about.
We have seen
unjust suspensions and terminations. Of course, we have seen some that were
warranted.
But mostly, know that us wanting a union does not make us
malcontents, or unhappy, or trouble makers. We are hard working people trying to
protect our livelihoods for our families and to maintain our basic needs such as
food and shelter in these times of the escalating costs of living.
Most of us
are VERY PROUD TO BE CAESARS PALACE EMPLOYEES. It certainly seems we care more
about the way our guests are being treated and the cleanliness of the hotel than
the corporate heads that are seeking profit- profit -profit. It is not possible
to make more every quarter without something suffering and being the only none
union service ..they take from you and me ..so we, as well as our guests, suffer
corporate profit.
Please let us work together on the front line to give every
guest the experience they should have at Caesars Palace. signed...ONE VOTE FOR
THE UNION
RESPONSE:
That post should also include the Supervisors from Days and
Swing. It is NOT personal. We are very good friends with many of you. We would
actually like to see all of you organize as well. We will help you if you would
like!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #171) From a Full-Time Dealer
10-22-07:
This, is for all the pussycat dealers. I'm sure you all
remember one of your dealers Summer. She, had some problems with a deranged boyfriend
coming in and causing problems. Instead, of management backing up their dealer
they finally decided it would be easier to just fire her. How is it her fault
some nut case won't listen.
This, is the type mentality we have had to deal with
for way to long. It sure would be nice to have someone stick up for you in these
type of situations.
It's time for us all including you to say enough is enough
it's just time.
Please, fill out your TWU cards today.
RESPONSE:
WOW! We were not aware of the PCD who was fired for a
circumstance beyond her control! If we were Union we bet that would NOT have
been the result! Shame on whoever made that poor decision!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #170) From a Full-Time Dealer
10-22-07:
WHAT CAN THE UNION DO FOR ME? This is a question we all have
but, I think some don't quite understand the answer. We, all just saw our
premiums jump up again. Also, when Harrah's came in they eventually changed the investment
company for our 401K.
Once, we go Union all our policies and procedures and
health plan etc. are solidified it's called status quo. Meaning they can't
change anything without NEGOTIATING with us. We, want changes to be made so we
have to negotiate with them. Next time they want to change our 401K in anyway
they have to negotiate it through the Union.
The following is just an example
and not meant to bash the pussycat dealers; it is not their fault how management
has handled everything. Some of us still don't know that management decided to
pay the pussycat dealers tokes for when they got dressed before the shift and
after (dress time). We, only found out because some of the girls told us. So,
some complaints were made and they changed it this was some time ago but, there
are still people in the dark about it. We, didn't know the girls were getting
full tokes for shadowing games again until they told us.
These, are some of the
things that are going to change. From, now on we will be informed of any changes
they want to make and they have to negotiate with us and we will vote on it. The
majority will decide.
WHY DOES MANAGEMENT CARE IF WE GO UNION?
Do they really think that they are protecting us; like they try to portray. I
think Harrah's should understand that this has nothing to do with them it's just
the timing it could be any company.
Replacing door handles on the EDR and now
suddenly taking the tokes away from the girls training isn't going to solve
anything. These are just little things the bigger picture is it's time for us
not to be cut out of the loop anymore and kept in the dark. Even, If they did
give us a binding agreement that they wouldn't take our tokes it doesn't matter.
"Enough is enough It's just time."
This is why they really care. They,
lose total control and now have to negotiate with us; when they want to make
certain changes. We now have a voice and can no longer be threatened. Even, if
there are hundreds of dealers that can replace us at a whim. That, can no longer
be their threat anymore.
I'm sure they are under a lot of pressure from MGM and
others to get this squashed because, once we go Union it's just a matter of time
before the rest of the city follows.
It's time for us to stand united and with
one voice say enough is enough.
RESPONSE:
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #169) From a Full-Time Dealer
10-22-07:
What a busy little day in the break room. We have new chairs.
We had a visit from the CFO, VP Human Resources, and the CSA guy ( by the way
James is a nice guy) trying to put a Band-Aid on compound fracture. Do not let
them denigrate the issues. Chairs, coffee, door handles are not the issues.
Those are things management should have handled a long time ago --good to see
someone else doing their job. The issues are TOKE PROTECTION, AFFORDABLE
INSURANCE, SENIORITY AND JOB PROTECTION. Sorry guys, to little --to late. Vote
for the union ..send in your cards today.
RESPONSE:
This reader is exactly right!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #168) From a Full-Time Dealer 10-21-07:
My People, Be brave. Stand tall. Don't be scared. It is time.
The time is now. Sign a card to show your support for those that has put
themselves in the spotlight to fight for all of us. Wear your pin. If you don't
have one - ask an IHO for one. AND NETWORK- NETWORK- NETWORK...THAT IS HOW YOU
GET THINGS DONE. THEY OPENED THE DOOR FOR ALL OF US TO DEBATE OPENLY AND
PUBLICLY...ASK QUESTIONS...GET INFORMED AND YOU WILL SEE WHY YOU MUST SEND IN
YOUR TWU CARD TODAY!!!! DO NOT STICK YOUR HEAD IN THE MUD AND WAIT TO SEE WHAT
HAPPENS OR PRETEND IT DOES NOT PERTAIN TO YOU. IT DOES. IT IS A FIGHT AGAINST
CORPORATE AMERICA. OUR GI'S ARE FIGHTING FOR US TO HAVE THESE RIGHTS...USE
THEM...SEND IN YOUR CARD AND SHOW THE TOP 15% THAT GETS 85% OF THE MONEY...WE
HAVE HAD ENOUGH!!! VOTE UNION...YES...GOD IT FEELS GOOD TO FIGHT BACK AND YES, I
HAVE WORN A PIN FOR TWO DAYS. SEND IN YOUR CARD....FIGHT BACK MIDDLE AMERICA!!!
RESPONSE:
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #167) From a Dealer 10-21-07:
"open door policy" we talking about the helps hall
dinning room? thank them for the door handles for me please
RESPONSE:
See the following post about the door handles.
As for the "open door" policy, what a joke that is!
When there was a dispute with tokes they tell our Dealer's Committee "You
will pay who we tell you to pay, when we tell you to pay them and how much to
pay them"! That's their idea of an "open door" policy. Yes,
walk through only to be dictated to!
Mr. J W... , our VP of Casino Ops, said at the meetings about Hospital
Tokes and Death
Benefit Tokes, "That was my decision to stop those
policies. There were a few Dealers who didn't agree with them." WHAT?
They say to us that the Union will be giving the "few" the rights to
make decisions for us! Yet the ONE makes a decision contrary to what the
MAJORITY OF DEALERS voted in as by-laws to settle the opinions of the
"few" who "disagreed" with the policies?
Listen Dealers of Caesars Palace, as we stand right now there is
ONE MAN making the decisions on our toke policies, and he does not even receive
tokes! He is treating us like kindergarteners with our lunch money! THIS MUST
STOP NOW, because if it does not, they have proven taht if the Nevada State
Supreme Court rules in favor of Wynn and their toke issue, that they have
already proven to us they will take our tokes and will do it again!
Mr. J W... also said he would NOT rescind his decision about
Hospital Tokes and/or Death Benefit tokes! What he is saying is that he will
continue to control our tokes and there is nothing we can do about it!
READ BETWEEN THE LINES!!!!!!
He IS telling us what their plans are! We must get their hands out of our
tokes now and forever! We need a COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #166) From a Dealer 10-21-07:
WOW people we got something DONE for US !!!!! because of the
Mandatory meeting the door handles to the back doors of the EDR (employee
dinning room) have been put back on!!!! WOW I feel so much better NOW
HOW MANY CARDS CAN I SIGN (WINK)
RESPONSE:
Although we believe that placing the handles back on the doors
to the EDR is something positive (they should NEVER have been removed in the
first place!), that is not what this Union drive is all about.
By allowing us to enter Cleo's by a quicker and more logical
means, that does NOT secure anyone's tip income!
Nor does it get any of us better health insurance!
Nor does it help with our 401K retirement fund!
Nor does it help with seniority!
Nor does it ensure our by-laws are untouchable by
management!
Nor does it provide us with a healthier work
environment!
Nor does it add anything to job security!
Placing the door handles back on the doors at Cleo's does ONE
THING, allows us 1 more minute to eat our delectable dinner! It is a NO COST
"feel good" tactic. They are trying to display to us, "See we do
care about you". What a joke! Why were they removed in the first place?
They ONLY replace them when they think we are going to organize?! That's pure
BS. DO NOT BUY INTO IT! Does it add anything to your future, your income, your
retirement? NO!!!! Keep the handles off and give us guarantees in a signed
binding agreement! That is what we want! Nothing less! Door handles...pffffftttttt...
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #165) From a Full-Time Dealer
10-21-07:
Are the extra board allowed to fill out the TWU cards. I
thought we were including everybody. If not I think that is a big mistake. We
don't need a huge list of extra board and that's exactly what management wants
when we go union. If they did ask them to be excluded can't we tell them no.
On another note to anyone concerned about Union dues. The dues are not mandatory
when we go union you are not forced to pay although you will not be able to run
for any position and will not be allowed to vote on any issues etc. but, you
will still be under the union umbrella.
RESPONSE:
EVERY DEALER at Caesars Palace is highly
encouraged to send in a card! Full-Time or Extra-Board makes no
difference. We want EVERY Dealer to be with us! However, we can not
"force" anyone to send in a card or vote "yes" for the
Union. All we can do is make the resources available to them and educate them
as much as we are capable of.
You are correct about the Union dues. As far as
"voting" on "issues" goes, if dues are NOT paid, those
members will not be able to vote on "Union Issues". That is not to
say they will not be able to vote on internal toke by-laws, provided they are separate
from the main CBA.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #164) From a Reader 10-21-07:
Most corporate executives have what is called a
"severance agreement".
It states something along the lines that for the next X number of years, if the
person is fired, quits, laid off, or replaced; or if the business is
restructured, sold, or closes; that person still gets their full salary for the
duration of the agreement or in a lump sum.
That's how with a straight face they can stand in front of you and say "We
don't have a contract".
Not exactly lying, but not exactly forthcoming with the truth.
RESPONSE:
Thank you for the insight! So, they tell us half-truths from one
side of their mouth basically, and then call us "liars" when we say
they have contracts. Interesting.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #163) From a Mandalay Bay Dealer
10-21-07:
Dealer for 30yrs
I am employed by the Mandalay Bay now MGM property for 15yrs, I deal multiple
games, I love dealing.
I take the time to teach the patrons, I have to keep
track of the drop on my game for my shift at the Mandalay Bay, and who left with
what and what was their average bet, this is not even my job but it is imposed
on us.
I have seen many changes in this town and in the casino
industry. many casinos now have become corporate and that is all that interest
them they do not care about our interest. Any time there is a change done or new
rule implicated it is only one step closer to controlling us and our income. It
is sad that there are so many dealers out there that can't see that, or maybe
they are afraid to because of fear of losing their jobs, but it isn't like that
any more as long as you do your job as you are suppose to they cant fire you for
your personal believes. This is a right to work state. Casino Bosses have been
placing this believe in dealers for so many years and years that it has been
engraved in the dealers minds. Be afraid of not having protection of your job
and benefits, be afraid of one day going in to work and finding out that our
tokes will be controlled as the Wynn dealers tokes, when that happened our
supervisor told us in our pre-shift meeting "we do not intend to take your
tokes AT THIS TIME". Very well said so that the dealers felt
comfortable. If Wynn which is still fighting and does not want to return the
tokes to the dealers and is taking it to the Supreme Court with his big lawyers
and wins this case you have to know that the other corporation are going to
follow the same.
We have to become ONE NOW! This is the time to unite and
protect what is ours and what we earn and work very hard for. Protect your families
income and benefits a hand shake or a verbal promise is not enough we need it on
paper contracts! Please just give it some thought. DEALERS UNITE! WE ARE IN 2007
NOW IS THE TIME.
RESPONSE:
Thanks for taking the time to visit our website and submitting
feedback. We encourage ALL Dealers in the State to do the same.
We agree with everything you wrote about. We hope you have
been in contact with the TWU and are going to start your own Union drive soon!
Every Dealer, no matter where you work, can access the Authorization Card on
this website and send one in. Get the ball rolling on your properties ASAP to
protect your income now. The sooner we are all organized, the sooner we gain
our strength!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #162) From a Full-Time Dealer
10-21-07:
I hope that we are going to elect strong, intelligent, savvy
and dedicated negotiators to our team !!! I say this because of a response dated
10/20/07 that stated we want a "freeze on our health care co-pays and
premiums".
I now say respectfully, HELL WITH THAT!!!
I think that all dealers deserve, at the very least, the same health care plan
($0.00 premium) that is afforded to our bartenders and cocktail servers who are
also paid 55% to 110% more than we are!!! Even more when retirement is added in!
We, as the largest group of front-line employees have been conditioned to cower!
How many times have we been told "If you don't like it, there are a dozen
other dealers out there that would like your job."?
IT'S TIME TO STAND-UP STRAIGHT AND TALL PEOPLE!!!
Loveman should be reminded that there are thousands of Qualified people who
would like his job too!!! Same goes for all of the other big bonus people below
him. Loveman and the rest are nothing more than employees just like us!!! These
cut-throats can be replaced too! It's just harder to do because they stick
together! A tight-knit club, a UNION if you will.
True, their club has raised the stock price by 400% or so, but where did they
get it from? Not from all of the big players they have brought in. Most of it's
come from cutting cost to the rank-and-file employees like ourselves!!!
We don't have to be sheep any more! Let us stand-up together with our human
dignity intact!!! All we want is ALL that we have been denied and nothing
less!!!
I hope others of us agree!
RESPONSE:
What everyone must keep in mind is that Unions such as the
Culinary Union have been negotiating their contracts for over 40 years. What
they have has been negotiated over many contracts. However, other Union's
benefits will serve as examples for us to follow. If one Union member is
receiving a certain benefit, wouldn't it make sense that another Union member
working for the same company would have the same? If we do not organize now, we
will have the same thing in 20 years that we have now, and probably even worse
if history is any indicator. Who knows what we would have today if Dealers 20
years ago had organized! So, let's get started ASAP so we can begin our journey
to better benefits.
Also, EVERY DEALER who belongs to the Las Vegas Dealers Union
will have the opportunity to run for election for any Union position. The
people involved in this Union Drive may never hold a Union position if they do
not run or are not elected. We would also like to point out that if any Dealer
does run for a Union position, if they did not support us by sending in a
card, that fact will be made known during the election process of the position
they are running for. Would we want someone representing us who didn't support
us and our efforts? May as well elect the people who called the mandatory
meetings if that's the case!
We really like the point that there are thousand of others who
are standing in line for Loveman's job too!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #161) From an Extra-Board Dealer
10-21-07:
I have been told and also read on the website, Nevada is a
right to work state and we don't have to pay union dues. then as i read through
the site it says things like a 50 cent raise would pay for union dues. I've
never heard of not paying union dues. also, is it true PCD Dealers make $10 an
hour? any idea of more people getting full time before the new company comes in
and when do they come in anyway?
RESPONSE:
Correct, as a Union Member in any "Right to Work"
State members are not required to pay dues. That is one of the original
intentions of the "Right to Work" Laws. One does not have to belong
to a Union at their job, and if they do belong, they are not required to pay
dues. However, if someone who is a Union member chooses NOT to pay their dues,
they will not be eligible to hold any Union positions.
As for the PCD base wages, please read the next post.
We are not privy to managements intentions when it comes to
promotions, be it when or who. All we know is when they do it and we know the
same as any other Dealer knows then. Sorry.
As for when the new company is going to actually take over, all
we can say is that they are currently going the "gaming approval"
stages throughout all the gaming jurisdictions where Harrah's has casino licenses.
We assume that when that is complete the transaction will be completed shortly
thereafter.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #160) From a Dealer 10-21-07:
So am I correct to learn that the PCD make more per hour than
the dealers outside of the PC?
What? That can't be true. Why would it be so?
The last time I checked you were all "Dealers." Why the difference in
pay? And please don't tell me that it is because they deal to higher action.
$500 a hand or $5 a hand. It is only one cheque. Size into it and go onto the
next one.
If I were still there I would go ballistic if this was going on.
I constantly deal to high action and don't expect to make more than someone else
who is not. We are still dealing the same game.
Get a union and stop the BS.
RESPONSE:
First of all let us clarify that the PCD Dealers are
"Pussycat Dolls" not "Palace Court" Dealers. So when the
abbreviation of PCD is used, it is in reference to "Pussycat Doll" Dealers.
As for the difference in paid wages, it is a "common
rumor" that they do make more in basic wages. Although none of them will
show a "regular Dealer" a check stub to either disclaim or
substantiate what their "base wage" is. In the beginning when the pit
first opened, we heard from management they were being paid more than a regular
Dealer. Then when they saw our reaction, they corrected themselves and said they
were not.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #159) From a 21 Dealer 10-21-07:
People it is simple.
If it is good for the casino they always do it. They changed the BJ rules
because it was good for the casino. The PC should go up because the players are
getting robbed.
They charged you more for your benefits because it was good for the casino. More
money goes to the bottom line which translates into higher bonuses for the
bosses.
So ask your self this question. If the casino does not want it then who is it
good for?
Duh! That would be you. Imagine that.
The casino does not want a union because it is good for you. They do not want
you to make a higher hourly wage because it is good for you. Hmm...
Do yourselves a big favor. Vote in the UNION. It is good for you which is why
the casino does not want it.
Simple logic.
RESPONSE:
When the Reader writes, "The casino does not want a
union because it is good for you. They do not want you to make a higher hourly
wage because it is good for you." It may not be so much because it is
good for us, but more that it is "bad" for them and the "record
profits". We know what is happening to the games and customers at work
and it is obvious that the "record profits" are not from winnings
alone (yes they do profit from winnings, but they play is WAY down. There is a
direct correlation between tokes and the drop, and if tokes are down, so is
their drop), but also from all the "cost cutting measures" they have
instituted.
Who suffers as a result of those cost cuts? We do! The
customers do as well (service standards drop). We suffer from the customers
suffering because they are less happy and do not return. We suffer because
they take directly from us.
The Union is our only valid option. We have one other option,
to sit back and do nothing and take the "wait and see" approach.
Where has that gotten us? Right where we are at! Where will it take us in the
future? Ask the Wynn Dealers!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #158) From a Dice Dealer
10-20-07:
To Our Management:
If you do not want us to unionize:
PUT IT IN WRITING THAT:
1)OUR TOKES WILL NEVER BE TAKEN TO SPLIT ANYWHERE ELSE AND
RETURN CONTROL TO THE MAJORITY BODY OF THE DEALERS.
2) GIVE US COST OF LIVING RAISES.
3) FOLLOW A SENIORITY PATTERN FOR HIRING THE X-TRA BOARD,
DAYS OFF BIDS, SHIFT BIDS AND ETC.
4) HIRE A REAL HUMAN RESOURCES ADVOCATE FOR OUR RIGHTS AND
MEET WITH US ON REGULAR BASIS TO HASH THINGS OUT.
DO THOSE THINGS FIRST AND WE WILL BELIEVE YOU...DO ANY THREE
OF THOSE THINGS AND MAYBE WE WILL BELIEVE YOU.
AND FOR ONCE....HEAR OUR SIDE OF A STORY BEFORE TAKING A
DRUNKEN GUESTS' SIDE.
RESPONSE:
We somewhat agree.
We would also like a "freeze" on Health Insurance
premiums and co-pays and ultimately a reduction.
We would also require "Progressive Discipline"
procedures outlined and an updated "Policy Handbook" and also
require that EACH Dealer be notified of any changes to policy in writing.
The "Cost of Living Raises" would have to be
comparable to other Caesars Palace Union employees.
As for when the reader writes, "PUT IT IN WRITING
THAT: " it would have to be a "Legal Binding Agreement"
signed by authorized representatives of Caesars Palace. It can NOT be just an
amendment to a "Policy" book or memo, either of which we know you
can change tomorrow.
We would insist on the readers #1 item in the list.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #157) From a Full-Time Dealer
10-20-07:
I have been a dealer at Caesars for over 20 years. I deal all
the games except one and I am an excellent dealer on all of them. I found out
today that there are dealers that transferred, and dealers that have been there
less than 10 years that make more money than I do. Why do I make $7.24 an hour
and they make $7.60 and hour and why do PCD make $10.00 and hour. A break-in
making $10.00 an hour and the dealers that deal to $150,000 a hand make $7.24.
Something stinks at Caesars!! J.... W... came in and wanted to be fair to
everyone so he took hospital and death tokes away and in the same breath did
away with our seniority. To whom is he being fair to?? It seems we are
continually punished for being loyal and conscientious employees and being able
to hang on to our jobs for over 20 years. Where is the fairness??? And then
there is S....... J...., the bitch to end all bitches!! She hates dealers! Why
do they have someone that hates us, over us. She has proved it over and over!
And what about upbeat and positive? She hasn't lowered her nose not even once to
speak to a dealer unless J.... was talking to them! She makes up the rules as
she sees fit - a different rule for different people--where are memos that used
to be posted when it was important. They are in some stupid book ! Another great
idea!!! Why, S......., do we have to wait until 23 after to clock out to get
paid when we work on the 20 after break and more than that WHAT IS IT TO YOU HOW
WE PAY OUR TOKES. GET OUT OF OUR MONEY! When do you pass the information on the
players? We have these meetings before every shift which gets you another 10
minutes a day from us without pay but nobody ever knows anything! The lack of
communication is pathetic. PLEASE GIVE ME ONE REASON TO BELIEVE AND TRUST
ANYTHING YOU SAY! WE HAVE BEEN THRU 35 CASINO MANAGERS AND ALMOST AS MANY
PRESIDENTS...AT ONE TIME THEY WERE PAYING THREE PRESIDENTS AT
ONCE....WHY...BECAUSE THEY HAD A CONTRACT EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE NOT DOING THEIR
JOB...THEY GOT PAID!!!!
RESPONSE:
All we have to say is this, the Mandatory Meetings have
"stirred the hornets nest"! Great job management! We didn't really
need the help, but appreciate it anyway.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #156) From a Full-Time Dealer
10-20-07:
We forgot to ask Mr. Selesner why Harrah's fired all the
cocktail waitress at the Rio who where not in a union .But have been unable to
do this at the Palace .They always say they want uniformity within the company.
RESPONSE:
That's right friends! All they have to do is
"re-classify" our jobs and all is lost! Why wee need to organize NOW!
>>> CLICK HERE <<< to
read about how you can lose it all through re-classification. Get your cards in
TODAY!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #155) From a Full-Time Dealer
10-20-07:
REALLY "LMAO" THANK YOU MANAGEMENT FOR CALLING A
MANDATORY MEETING AND BEING SO UNPREPARED! THE CARDS ARE POURING IN NOW! MOST OF
THE FENCE SITTERS FELL RIGHT INTO THE UNION FRONT DOOR!!! ALSO, IT WAS VERY
CONVENIENT TO LEAVE THE PCD GALS OUT OF THE MEETINGS. WHY? YOU DON'T WANT THEM
TO KNOW THE REAL ISSUES...WELL...A FEW LAST NIGHT SAID " TO F---ING BAD,
BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALREADY SIGNED!!
RESPONSE:
It was/is curious that they would leave out any group of
Dealers. What, they PCD Dealers are not good enough to hear what the rest of the
Dealers are hearing? We don't believe that, but maybe management does as
exhibited by their actions.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #154) From a Graveyard Dealer
10-20-07:
How can Mr. S....... and Mr. W... make a promise about not
taking our tip money as Wynn has, when they told graveyard that they had no
contract. Maybe Mr. Loveman will fire them to add more to his $100,000,000 that
he will receive when the sale is complete.
RESPONSE:
They were asked about the "lies" on the website and
were asked to name one. Selesner responded by stating he does NOT have a
contract. Okay, maybe we have "assumed" that he and the VP's have
contracts. Can anyone imagine ANY President of a branch of a company that
makes 10's of millions of dollars each quarter NOT having a contract? Maybe he
is "in between" contracts? Do we all believe that they have no
contacts, especially the property President? Maybe we will do some
"research" on that. All we have to say is this, if in fact we DO
find a contract for Mr. Selesner, how many will take his word then? How many
take it now? Now, what "lies" that directly affect the Dealers at
Caesars Palace are on this website? Care to point one of those out Mr.
Selesner?
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #153) From a Dealer 10-20-07:
"CSA scores are down" What a crock of shit. CSA
scores are based on the same quarter the previous year. If you get a dynamite
CSA score one qtr you can bet yer sweet patooty it isn't gonna be that way the
same quarter next yr. It cant be. You did so well previously that it is nigh
impossible to do better. This system is designed to see that you don't get yer Massive
200 'bonus' every qtr. This matters little to me. What is really important is
that MR. Loveman and his henchman at the High Command get the big bonuses they
so well deserve.
RESPONSE:
How does the "High Command" earn their bonuses? By
increasing the bottom line. How is that done? By instituting terrible BJ rules
and cutting costs and providing employees with less.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #152) From a Wynn Dealer
10-20-07:
You guys ready? I hope so... it is time!
RESPONSE:
We agree!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #151) From a Dealer 10-20-07:
You can provide a customer a room, a show, a drink or even a
meal and odds are you can meet or even exceed his or her expectations. When that
same customer comes to a casino game all that changes. Now, with every hand ODDS
ARE a dealer will NOT exceed or even meet that customers' expectations! So, when
it comes to customer service we are at a constant statistical disadvantage! But,
our performance appraisals are based on the same standards as every other
service industry employee!
RESPONSE:
It is a Dealer's job/responsibility to deal the game. Every game
has a built-in advantage for the House. When the House believes someone is
taking advantage of the game (like card counting), the House will stop that
customer from playing that particular game.
Bottom line is, the Dealers beat customers out of their money.
How may we ask then can we meet or exceed a customer's expectations of
"service"? The only thing a customer who is gambling wants from a
Dealer is a winning hand. That is why the customer sat at the table in the first
place, to win. When they lose, they blame the Dealer 9 out of 10 times. When the
customer makes a complaint about the Dealer, it most likely stemmed from their
losing. How many times has a customer who is winning made any complaints about
the Dealer? Very rarely if ever.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #150) From a Full-Time Dealer 10-19-07:
I asked a senior cocktail waitress what she got paid an hour.
11.30 plus the union got her a raise over the next five years. The same dealer
who worked the same amount of years gets under eight dollars. Take the
difference in pay over ten years and you get a 70,000 difference in pay. Add
that to an interest bearing account or directly to your 401k and you would even
have a larger number. Hell you could buy a very nice car every five years just
on the difference in pay. Vote union and lets get what others are getting.
RESPONSE:
We know that the cocktail servers get paid the same in wages
from the hotel, no matter how long they have with the company. A 20-year server
gets the same as one who has just been hired. They use their
"seniority" to earn them more money by the "area" they are
assigned to.
We would also like to make mention that once we vote the Union
in, we will NOT get a large raise immediately with our first contract. The Union
workers who are at CP have earned those scales through many contract
negotiations. But we must start somewhere, or we will NEVER even have a chance.
Voting in the Union will benefit the young Dealers the most, those who have
another 20+ years on the property when it comes to wages. We hope they
understand that.
ALL Dealers will see immediate benefits though. Number one will
be the protection of our tip income. That is something they do not provide us
with now. There are many other immediate benefits we will all see, most of which
is contained throughout this website.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #149) From a 21 Dealer 10-19-07:
What's up with dealers evaluations being sent back over and
over because they score too high on them? They are rejected, and the floor has
to redo them until they are average? And does that mean you have to wait for
your .04 cent an hour raise while the floor is redoing your eval.? That does
come to 76.80 cents a year.
RESPONSE:
Because while they gave the cocktail waitresses a $3-per-hour
raise, they do not want to give you a $.04-an-hour raise! You aren't good
enough, and they are going to make sure of that by rejecting your evaluations
continuously. They do not "trust" those they put in charge of doing
evals evidently! The same people who supervise us and can get us fired!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #148) From a 21 Dealer 10-19-07:
I am wondering why these casinos don't want us to belong to a
union? Is it because it will cost them money, like raises and better insurance?
Is because they wont be able to fire us at a whim? Is it because they want to
have control over our tokes, tell us who to pay when to pay? Is it because they
want to be able to promote to full-time who they want, when they want? Is it because
they want to have full control over us? Is it because they want to have
dissention among the dealers? Other than that I cant think of any reason why
they wouldn't want us to unionize!
RESPONSE:
You our friend, have just listed a few of the main reasons WHY
they do not want us to organize!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #147) From a Swing Dealer
10-19-07:
They promote to full-time at random, "I will promote
who I want, when I want" was told to a dual-rate, when asked why they
were passed over. Also the
cocktail waitresses just got a 3 dollar an hour raise, which comes to 5,760
dollars a year, over ten years that is 57,600 dollars! Put that 3 dollar
an hour raise straight into your 401K for 10 years and you have added almost
90,000. Now take my 8 cent an hour raise, that is 153.60 cents a year!
That is 1,536 dollars saved over 10 years put that straight into my 401k and I
have saved almost 2500 dollars over 10 years! WHOOHOO!!!
Also they promoted again last night, people were passed over again.
RESPONSE:
Need to ask yourself "WHY" should you join the
Union? Just re-read the above post!
Maybe you are a Full-time Dealer and don't think much of them
continually passing over Dealers for promotions, but it is just an example of
how they operate. How they treat you will be just the same as the way they
treat those who they continually pass over.
Please, anyone who has NOT sent in a card, DO SO NOW! It just
continues to get worse EVERY DAY! We must stop the bleeding and the Union is
our only tourniquet!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #146) From a Swing 21 Dealer
10-19-07:
I just want to offer a BIG thank you to the In House
Organizers. I know it took a lot of moxy. My deepest thanks to all of you. I
wasn't able to come out. It was just causing too many problems for my personal
life. I hope when this drive is complete and we are a union hotel that we can
all come together and have a party in appreciation of all the IHO's. Again,
thanks and good luck to all of us.
RESPONSE:
We too would like to thank the Dealers who have "outed"
themselves for the Dealers of Caesars Palace! Please, everyone support the
"In-House Organizers" best as you can, we are all in this together!
We WILL have a party like Vegas has never seen when CP Dealers
are UNION!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #145) From a Wynn Dealer
10-17-07:
As corporations in America is getting stronger and stronger,
our political systems is being abused. They use all that billions in profits
that YOU and I made for them to influence politicians to pass law that will
raise corporate earnings while make stealing your hard earn money legal. Do you
wanted to allow this corporate dictatorship? This is America! Fight back! The
only way we can win this battle is by numbers. Together we can be stronger and
through the Union, we can make a different. Everyone in Las Vegas should group
together and join the Union. Be part of history that you can be proud of when
you look back in life, that you have done the right thing! I was afraid but I
did it, so can you!
RESPONSE:
Thank you for visiting us and for your Feedback! We invite ALL
Dealers from ALL casinos to contact us.
We view organizing not so much as a fight, but as a struggle to
overcome oppression. Yes, we understand that the corporations have provided us
with jobs, but we have in turn provided them with hard work and success. Yes,
the corporations have invested much cash into the business, but it is us, the
workers, who have made their business successful so they have revenue to
re-invest.
Many people like to think that the CEO's and other executives
are the "owners" of the businesses they head, but that is not true.
They are employees just as we are. They make decisions, some good some bad, that
affects the business, but so do we. How many times have you, as a Dealer, had to
soothe a customer, exchange family photos, comfort those who are losing their
money, make recommendations for restaurants or shows, etc... It is our
interaction that is the "glue" keeping the business we work for
solvent. We are not machines. Without the companies money, there would be no
business. Equally important is our presence and hard work, without it there
would also be no business. Neither is more important than the other and all
facets are needed to be successful.
All we want is our fair share, nothing more, nothing less.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #144) From Anonymous 10-16-07:
I need to check but, I think our tokes have dropped
dramatically since the new BJ rules started.
It only makes sense that the rules which reduce a players chances to win
simultaneously reduce ours!
If a player can't split a hand that has a toke on it then your chance to get
another toke on that hand is gone! If he/she can't double after a split then he
can't double for you either! If the house advantage increases because of hitting
a soft 17 then it decreases for you as well!
The only catch is it's their joint so they get to make the rules, which was
probably in response to a decrease in hold.
Now if the decrease in play, or drop, out weighs the increase in hold then the
joint may have no choice but to revert to the previous rules. Any player with
even a little knowledge of BJ knows that the better odds are right next door,
which has caused a reduction in play!
RESPONSE:
We have several Dealers reporting their income is DOWN
anywhere from $7-12K from last year. In addition to our decrease in
income, we are paying MORE for our benefits and getting LESS in
401K match.
Management liked to tell us, "You made more money last
year than you have ever made before", and we respond to that on a separate
page >>> HERE
<<<. In addition, we would like to point out that at Caesars Palace
the Dealers have ALWAYS made more in TIPS (NOT base pay!) than the previous
year over the last 20+ years, with one year being an exception. Looks like we
are headed for another year when we are going to make LESS than the year
before, while the corporation is gleefully recording "RECORD
PROFITS".
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #143) From a Full-Time Dealer
10-16-07:
I agree with "just had to vent". The BJ RULES ARE
ATROCIOUS!!! The customers walk out everyday over these rules " very pissed
off" and then management has the audacity to tell us the CSA scores are
down....DO YOU THINK....Management ...we know you read these...so do you think
you could reevaluate just how much more percentage you hold as to how many
customers you piss off that will never come back!!! If I was the new company
coming in...the first thing I would do is throw you all out on your ear for
ruining a gaming icon such as Caesars...shame on you Loveman...shame on all of
you for being so greedy...I hope the Nevada Resorts Ass. has their reunion in
hell!!!
RESPONSE:
CSA scores? Let's play with some math here. Let's say we have 5K
employees. Let's say we scored high enough for the $200 (before taxes)
"bonus". That is equal to $1 million. Let's say we do it 4 quarters in
a row. That is $4 million TOTAL POSSIBLE BONUS to the workers of CP. What was
Loveman's "bonus"? $12 million? He must have had one hell of a CSA
score!
"...shame on all of you for being so greedy..."
They have no shame! But they sure do have some FAT bank accounts while ours
are dwindling and we take all the heat!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #142) From a Venetian Dealer
10-14-07:
Let me clear on the Venetian/Palazzo toke policy. We are all
going as one casino for at least 2 reasons. First, there would be fighting
amongst dealers over where the georges should play. Second, the place is being
opened under the same license. The entire property is nonunion. Taking our tokes
would change that. Right now, there is no threat of redistribution to
supervisors.
RESPONSE:
Thanks for visiting us and sending in your feedback and
providing us with more insight on the plans there!
From what we heard was happening with HET when they first took
over PPE was that they tried to funnel all the players to Caesars Palace. I am
sure that hurt their Dealers bottom line at the other properties. So, when the
reader writes, "We are all going as one casino for at least 2 reasons.
First, there would be fighting amongst dealers over where the georges should
play.", not that we believe they care for us at HET to such a depth,
but there my friends is a "reason" they could use to combine our
properties.
When the reader writes, "The entire property is
nonunion. Taking our tokes would change that. Right now, there is no threat of
redistribution to supervisors." Unfortunately, if they took your
tokes for redistribution you would find yourselves in the same position the
Wynn Dealers are in (if they did it before the NSC ruling). If however the NSC
rules in favor of Steve-o, then if you are not organized and they decide to
grab your tokes, you have lost and getting them back through negotiations
would be nearly impossible.
This is exactly WHY every Dealer in the State of Nevada MUST
organize BEFORE the NSC hands down a decision. It is our ONLY "insurance
plan". For those who decide to wait to see how it all turns out, that is
taking your entire lives and gambling with them with one roll of the dice.
When it comes to gambling, we as professionals know who holds the advantage,
the House.
If the NSC rules against Steve Wynn, and the Dealers
everywhere have organized, nothing has been lost. You would still have a Union
and be on the road to a "contract", which would include job
security, better wages and benefits, and better working conditions. And if by
some chance the Union did not work out for you all, you always have the
opportunity to "de-certify" and go back to the way it was as an
"at-will" employee.
To most of us, the decision of voting in a Union is a
"Win-Win" situation. There is nothing to lose, but everything to
gain.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #141) From a Swing Shift Dealer
10-14-07:
Congratulations on making the news! That's big. It was in the
paper and on TV that we are organizing. I understand that we have enough cards
to petition the NLRB already but would like to see a higher percentage in good
faith! SO FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT I HAVE HEARD SAY "YES, I THINK IT IS A GOOD
IDEA---SEND IN THAT CARD" We must for once in our careers-STICK
TOGETHER!!!! Be kind to each other, support each other, and inform each other.
We have nothing to lose and everything to gain by having a union. If we do not
vote the union in...then we have everything to lose. Please my fellow dealers,
DO NOT WASTE THIS OPPORTUNITY!! To those of you that started this website and
worked on the committee...THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE COURAGE TO COME FORWARD AND
TRY TO HELP US ALL! so come on people...SIGN YOUR TWU CARDS AND SEND THEM IN
TODAY...DON'T WAIT... We have already moved faster than most places that start
organizing...Let Caesars dealers be unique yet again....SIGN A CARD AND MAIL
IT!!
RESPONSE:
That "Congratz" is not for us, but for every Dealers
who has sent in the card! Our hats are off to all of you!
Yes, we have enough cards now, but to illustrate how strong we
are we need more cards sent in before the TWU will feel secure about petitioning
for the vote.
As everyone can see, everyone's names have been kept "confidential" as
we have said they would. We would like to point out something about the
"confidentiality" though. First, we will have "in-house
organizers" (IHO's) VERY soon. They will be Dealers from CP who represent
the Union. Their names WILL be provided to CP in a letter declaring them as
IHO's. These people will be standing up for each and every Dealer in CP. Please
help them out as much as you can when they show up. They have risked their
entire livelihoods and the livelihoods of their families for all of you. These
people will have access to the names of everyone on their shift who has sent in
a card. The IHO's need this information to be able to see who still needs to be
educated about the benefits of the Union. They have been carefully selected from
the Organizing Committee. They will NEVER divulge to ANYONE who has or has not
sent in a card. Please keep in mind, when a Union organizes a work place,
traditionally the IHO's are there from the beginning of the "drive"
and have access to the lists because they manually passed out and collected
cards throughout the drive. That is exactly how they did it in AC and at The
Wynn. We have broke new ground with they way we organized by using the internet.
Already we have been the first down the path and are setting precedent for the
way Unions organize.
On the same note, about collecting cards, once we win the Union
election it will be time for us to elect Dealers into Union positions, such as
the Shop Stewards and the Contract Negotiating Committee. Every Dealer who was
included in the "voting block" will be eligible to be elected into
these positions. However, we warn everyone who did NOT send in an A-Card:
if you attempt to run for any of these positions, we WILL inform all the Dealers
that you did NOT support us while we were gathering cards for the petition for
election and we feel because of that lack of support during the most critical
part of organizing, if you did not support the Union drive, why would we want
you to now represent us. What would lead us all to believe you would fairly
represent us if you didn't support us by at least sending in your card? This
will be the ONLY time anyone's names will EVER be revealed as to either having
sent in a card or not.
When the reader writes, "We have nothing to lose and
everything to gain by having a union. If we do not vote the union in...then we
have everything to lose." That is so correct! By voting the Union in
what we do is give ourselves an OPTION. As of right now, we have no
"options".
Let's lead the Dealers of Nevada into "change" the
right way. Change for the better finally is just around the corner! It is now in
clear view.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #140) From a 21 Dealer 10-13-07:
I can't stand it any longer. Who in the hell is setting the
rules for the table games in this place. Double on 10 and 11 only, no double
after splitting, split aces 1 time, hit soft 17, no surrender. Why don't we just
mug and rape them before they get in the door. Hell, just let them mail in what
they want to lose and save the travel time. I can't even begin to tell you the
number of customers that get up and leave over these shitty rules. My insurance
just went up again and yes I have sent in a TWU card. Thanks, just had to vent a
little.
RESPONSE:
Yes, we agree with you on the BJ rules, but it is their business
and they can ruin it however they want. A Union will not help us
"directly" there. As they continue to lose customers and we organize,
maybe they will be forced to go back to the old rules to get customers back so
they can pay us?
We also know that insurance coverage took a hit and will do a
page on that very soon. Stay strong and don't let them get to you. We will
prevail.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #139) From an Ex-HET Executive 10-10-07:
As a former HET executive I believe you need to organize as
quickly as possible. HET under Gary's leadership has always been a cold uncaring
company. He has moved the company from a share price of $14.00 7 years ago to a
$90.00 value. It was not done by being nice to non union employees.
With the upcoming "new" company acquisition non union life will only
get worse. Private equity firms have one direction, yield management. That means
more take-aways.
RESPONSE:
Thank you for your advice. We are trying our best to heed your
warning.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #138) From a Local Dealer
10-10-07:
yey that's real nice that you guys want a union. I remember
when they tried way back to get the strip to unionize, and all you guys did is
cry why should we, we make great money not thinking about the little guys off
strip.
RESPONSE:
Timing is everything. Years ago we didn't need the Union as much
as we need it today. It would have been much better if we had organized years
ago, but it didn't happen. We still make good money, but it's no longer just
about the money.
Have you tried organizing your casino? Contact the TWU reps, Joe
Carbon or Steve
Roberts to get it started. Like we said, timing is
everything.
We ARE thinking about the "off strip" casinos too, but
must concentrate on getting our own property organized. Do what we did, call the
TWU guys and get it started at your casino today.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #137) From an MGM/Mirage Dealer
10-10-07:
I have been following the Health Insurance issue/debate
through the comments.
Can you tell me what the premiums are for health insurance at Caesars now? What
has changed in the plan for you all? From what I can gather, it seems that you
pay quite a bit out of pocket for coverage and that it has been steadily
increasing.
Just curious. MGM MIRAGE dealers are paying only $22 for a family (3+ unlimited
amount of dependents) bi-weekly on the PPO. It was worth it to me to maintain
this level of cost, so I completed the online wellness survey, despite having a
serious health condition.
This is a program that has been in place for a few years and there are
incentives to participating in the programming like stress reduction, weight
loss, diabetes management etc. I have participated since the program began and
have derived many benefits from what has been offered.
Some companies in the US have been EXTREMELY aggressive with their health
measures -- up to firing smokers after they had been given a year to quit, if
they weren't successful. I don't see that this survey to make employees aware of
potential health risks of certain conditions or behaviors is anywhere near the
same category.
Health insurance costs are skyrocketing in the US. That is the bigger issue that
this country will have to address eventually. Good doctors can't afford to
practice in Nevada and are leaving or are not taking new patients. During the
OB/GYN insurance issue MY doctor of 15+ years told me that I was due too late in
the year and he would have already met his quota of deliveries for the year --
so a doctor I didn't know delivered my daughter in the ER.
Also, the Hitler comments are a bit much. The HIPPA (Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) ensures that medical information is
private and can not be used against you in the manner some are asserting.
Thanks for the forum. Good luck to you. Just like with Wynn, the whole city is
watching.
RESPONSE:
Thanks for your feedback and info.
The reader asks, "What
has changed in the plan for you all?"
We have been bought and sold so many times in the last ten years our heads are
still spinning. And we have another new owner coming very soon. With every new
owner/management we get new insurance, and it is NEVER better. Right now, a
family who has opted for the "mid-level" (there are 3 different
levels) coverage (they pay 100% of first $750, we pay 100% of next $750, then
they pay 80/20 at best and 50/50 at worst, depending on treatments) the premium
is a little over $70-per-pay-period with dental and vision. Just a few years ago
we were paying half the premium and paying $10 per doctor visit and $5 per RX
and $100 per hospital stay.
We realize that health costs are skyrocketing, but we also
realize that there are Union employees who pay ZERO for premiums and that our company
is recording "record profits" each quarter while increasing the costs
of our benefits.
We agree that some comments are a bit much, as you have stated,
and so did we. But we are trying to be fair and post everyone's feedbacks here
with no editing.
We would like to point out that when this reader wrote, "The HIPPA (Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) ensures that medical information is
private and can not be used against you in the manner some are asserting."
that they also wrote, "Some companies in the US have been EXTREMELY aggressive with their health
measures -- up to firing smokers after they had been given a year to quit, if
they weren't successful."
They also stated, "I don't see that this survey to make employees aware of
potential health risks of certain conditions or behaviors is anywhere near the
same category."
Everyone can believe what they will, but until things are outlined in a
contract, anything can happen that the corporations want to make happen.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #136) From a 21 Dealer 10-9-07:
Hey Gang, New Bellagio story. They had a high end Asian
player that the host had told not to tip the dealers--we never saw that before
lol--anyway, it pissed him off so he tipped out over 715,000 dollars on a
million dollar win. The host had tried to stop him by showing him how much he
had tipped periodically, on a piece of paper. Then the host tried to get the
dealer to mark up the tokes and the player would sign for them. The pit manager
authorized it but the dealer refused to do it stating their tokes belonged in
the box. The baccarat dealers are going to Bill Bingham tomorrow! That just
shows the times and how everyone is trying to screw us out of our tokes. You
know the house would not have collected that money and the dealers would never
have gotten it. SIGN A UNION CARD TODAY AND PROTECT OUR MONEY!!
RESPONSE:
WOW, Packer re-born? We know he loved to tip the Dealers to
spite management! Maybe we should all send the "Host" involved a
birthday card next year for creating a new "George"!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #135) From a Dealer 10-7-07:
When will we hear the words " Caesars Palace petitions
the NLRB for a Union Vote!?
RESPONSE:
As soon as we get the cards we need to file. Look, we have many
people who are working very hard for this, but we need everyone to work on it.
WE are the union! The Dealers of Caesars Palace!
Work for what you want. You wanted a new car yes? You worked for
it. You wanted a new house yes? You worked for it. You wanted a new
entertainment system yes? You worked for it. Do you want a Union at Caesars
Palace? Then we must all work for it. If everyone would spread cards and info
out like everyone spreads rumors about, we would have enough cards already.
Nothing gets done by itself, especially not organization.
We have received many cards already, and to expedite the process
we need EVERYONE to promote the Union and the benefits. We can not sign cards
for you all, you must all do it. Many have made comments like, "I sent in
my card, I did my part". Yes, that is partly true. But if everyone wants to
really do their part and really want a Union in, then help get cards signed now!
Don't just think that because you have signed a card we are now ready to vote.
Yes, you did a very important part, but there is still more to be done. There
are many who are not even aware of this Union drive, educate them and provide
them with a card if you must. We only have so many hours in the day and we are
working them all. Step up and help us so that the card you sent in really counts
for something. You must all help yourselves during this process.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #134) From a Dealer 10-7-07:
So what the MGM, and soon to follow other major
corporations, is doing to the non union employees is ok by you all?
If you have a family history of say heart attacks, diabetes, cancer, etc etc
etc, then these corporations can run a profile on you and charge you extra
premiums or even deny you coverage. Also, it was ok for Hitler to mark my
beloved people and then exterminate them 6 million of them. The world stood by
and watched. Now my fellow dealers, you can stand by and watch while the weak
and sick amongst us are discriminated against. You know that you might be
healthy and strong , with no maladies, but you too can get sick within a
flash.
Thank you for your support I truly appreciate it.
RESPONSE:
Not "okay" by us! Remember, we sign up for new
insurance starting the end of October! Anyone willing to wager if it gets better
or worse?
This is the summation of what we hear about the "health survey"
situation at the MGM/Mirage:
All employees at the MGM/Mirage are being "required" to fill out a
"30 minute health survey" for their next years insurance. They are
also being provided with one "wellness" day off to take a physical.
The survey is semi-mandatory, the physical is not. It has been said that the
company is instituting a new "preventative health plan" being the
reason for the survey. It has been said the premiums are going up for everyone
for 2008, but the company will absorb the additional cost this year.
If their employees do NOT fill out the survey, they will have to pay
$10-per-month more for their health insurance and their coverage will drop from
80/20 to 70/30 (wonder what their "out-of-network" will be?).
We believe they will use the information they gather from the survey for the
following year, 2009, to identify "at risk" employees and increase
their costs and lower their benefits. Also, the company has said they will
absorb the increased costs for 2008, but what about 2009? Will the employees
have to pay the increased costs for BOTH 2008 AND 2009 next year? Sounds like it
may be a very BIG jump for 2009 for them all.
We think the readers comparison to "Hitler" may be a bit strong, but
hey, anyone interested in taking a "free" train ride in a cattle
car?
Everyone can "read into" the insurance issues what they want, but we
believe, as has been proven to us from past experience, that it does not get
better and only gets worse. Last year was the first year that CP only allowed
ONE YEAR insurance policies and made everyone re-enroll. Before we always had
"open enrollment periods", those days are gone. They are treating our
health insurance like auto insurance now. Who knows, maybe very soon we will
only have 6-month health insurance policies too.
People, the insurance issues are only affecting NON-UNION employees! The ONLY
way to protect what we have and to bring things back into balance is with a
UNION! Please, don't be blind, these problems are not going to just go away if
you ignore them. We must act now!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #133) From a 21 Dealer 10-6-07:
Dear fellow Dealers
No we are not associates we do not work at Wal-Mart.
We are Dealers! Please listen, if we were in some but f--k third world or 4th or
5th world maybe we have no rights. We are in AMERICA! We are AMERICANS! We have
a right to secure our future! Do you all remember NAFTA? That was a giant
sucking sound from MEXICO put a lot of AMERICANS out of work. What happened? We
lost our house our jobs our husbands our wives!
Now we hear that MGM wants a physical on its NON-UNION employees? WHAT this is
un-heard of! So we will have to answer all these stupid questionnaire. If you
have diabetes, heart problems, back problems, sciatica, etc... you will be
charged a higher premium and you will get less coverage from CAESARS PALACE. Are
you kidding me?! Look, if you have any pre-conditions you are fu---d!
Pussycat girls, I am a friend of yours, you know me. But babes do you want to be
abused like we have been for the last 27 or more years? Come on, you see it!
All these corporations are doing is taking, taking and taking more and more and
more from us.
Look this is not against your juice, this is for all of us to get better working
conditions.
What about the lady who is with child? Did her fetus do anything to get abused
like this? This corp. give her a little break maybe make her table a non-smoking
table? But noooo!
All you old time dealers please help us! This is not the old TWU, we are the new
TWU! That is us DEALERS!
Look guys I never bother anybody, rather I am always willing to help everybody
in any way that I can. I am an AMERICAN just like the rest of us! We need a
contract, we need better working conditions. Also we want everybody to join us!
This includes dual-rates and full-time floor. We want you to get better wages,
not take our TOKES away. You know all that would create would be hostilities
between us. Please if you were juiced in, sooner or later your juice will leave
CAESARS PALACE. Then what?
To my old time friends, I ask you to please send in your cards, please don't
talk about the Tropicana or the other joints. We are a new group of people we
will not let you down Please join me in this historical moment.
Lets have a BOSTON TEA PARTY!
Right on dude!
We are AMERICANS and we deserve the best!
USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA
LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT!
RESPONSE:
Is that a "plea" for cards? Just so you all know, we
are getting cards in every day. They are stacking up! But the reader is right in
that we need EVERYONE to send in their cards.
The reader does point out potential "insurance issues"
that are looming around the corner.
The reader makes a reference to the "old TWU" and the
"new TWU" and the Tropicana. We will address this now:
First of all, the TWU has a new President and new Head of
Organizing who are BOTH committed to organizing new members.
Next, the TWU did attempt to organize the Dealers in Las Vegas
several years ago. They did manage to get the Union voted in on three
properties, one of which DID negotiate a contract (The New Frontier). The
other two properties were the Stratosphere and the Tropicana. Many like to
point out the failure of a contract at those two properties. Well, it was NOT
the TWU who failed, but the Dealers themselves.
Both, the Stratosphere and the Tropicana are
"mid-level" casinos. Dealers go to those properties from
"break-in" houses. Very few plan on making a career at either of
those properties, but instead are continually looking to move "up"
to the larger casinos where they can finish their careers. With that in mind,
the Dealers who originally voted the Union in at both properties "moved
up" to bigger better casinos. The Dealers who voted the Union in were no
longer there when it came time to negotiate contracts. Remember, the Union is
US, THE DEALERS. The Dealers who were left behind, and the new Dealers who
were hired after the vote to replace those who moved on, had no idea what was
going on with their Union. Their "leadership" was lost to casinos
like Caesars Palace, Bellagio etc... So, can you see what happened? If those
who were instrumental in organizing their casinos left for better jobs, then
those who remained or were hired had lost their leaders. The TWU is ONLY our
vehicle. If Dealers are not there to carry on the Union drive, then there is
no drive.
We had thought the only way to get Dealers organized was to
start at the "bottom" casinos, but we were wrong. What happened at
the Strat and Trop proved that. We need to start at the top and move through
to the bottom. We need leaders who are NOT going to leave their casino so
everything can be followed through.
The Dealers at Caesars Palace do NOT plan on leaving for
"better" jobs like those at the Strat and Trop did. We will be here
until the end. We will see this movement through.
We would also like to let everyone know there are another SIX
casinos in Las Vegas alone (and more will be coming very shortly) waiting in
the wings to start their Union drives. They are all in the beginning of their
drives. It takes time, but they will catch up. The sooner we get ours moving
forward to the Vote, the sooner they will follow our lead and the faster they
will progress.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #132) From a Dealer 10-6-07:
Why should I care? I only have about 4 years to go before I
retire. I'll tell you why. I don't want the younger dealers to have to go
through what I went through for 35 years [the last 15,working for corporations].
Call it my legacy or whatever you want. When you walk into work and it's like
putting your head in a guillotine...something is wrong. When your entire life is
at the whim of an incompetent manager...something is wrong. When your pit
manager [or floorman-because of fear] won't even defend you against a customer
who is out of line...something is wrong. When the most important thing is
getting a safety chip...something is wrong. Someone once said: When a manager is
incompetent and has power over you, then you have a problem. But even worse is
when that manager does not know how incompetent they themselves are. Total disaster
for the dealer. More for the corporation and less for the employees. Dealers,
what are you waiting for? Sign up NOW, before the Harrah's of this world take
away just about everything we have.
RESPONSE:
When the reader writes, "I only have about 4 years to
go before I retire." We hope you make it. With a Union we know you
will, without one, well we are all "at-will" employees. Terrible to
think that way, but it is true. You should be confident knowing you have given
you best to the business and know that you have nothing to worry about until
you retire, but that is just not the case. You know it and so do we. It is
something the "young" Dealers would be wise to heed. Let's just hope
they can hear us.
We agree, we do have a few incompetent supervisors (maybe more
than a few). It's not really their fault though. When being trained by incompetent
people you just get more of the same. It is a plague taking over the casino
business.
Upper-management don't really care about the
"long-term" of the business. They have the mindset to get what they
can as quickly as they can because tomorrow they may be out of a job. We can't
count how many shift-bosses, casino managers, VP's, etc.. we have seen come
and go over the last ten years. With ethics like that, the business goes to
shit, and we are seeing it before our very eyes.
The young Dealers know no difference, because they have not
had the opportunity to see what a well run casino is really like. They only
know what they see and what they see now is NOT the way it has been or should
be.
Dealers are here for the long-term though, and we suffer from
terrible management skills and lack of genuine concern for the company. We
must Unite so the suffering stops.
Let's stop digging graves and instead smell the roses.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #131) From a Wynn Dealer 10-5-07:
So The MGM has started threatening their non union employees
that if they don't fill out this health survey on themselves their benefits will
drop to 70/30 instead of 80/20. MGM knows that there is a big union organizing
threat going around and still they threaten their non-union employees. They
think we are stupid and they can do anything to us and we won't stick together
and become one. Show them different. Stick up for yourselves. This shows me how
glad I am that Wynn Las Vegas voted in the union. We are only in negotiations
but Steve Wynn can not threaten to take my benefits because I AM A UNION
MEMBER!!!!!!!!! He can't change anything because we are in negotiations. We stay
status quo. Come on dealers show them that they can't take advantage of you and
you can stick together!!!!!! Stay Strong and sign your cards!!!
RESPONSE:
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #130) From a 21 Dealer 10-4-07:
HEY MY FELLOW DEALERS:
IN CASE YOU THINK WE DON'T NEED A UNION LISTEN TO THIS: THE BELLAGIO AND ALL THE
MGM MIRAGE PROPERTIES HAVE MADE IT MANDATORY THAT ALL EMPLOYEES FILL OUT A
HEALTH SURVEY TO QUERY ABOUT THEIR HABITS AND GIVING THEM A DAY OFF (NO TOKES
INCLUDED) TO GO GET A PHYSICAL . IF THEY DON'T FILL OUT THE SURVEY THEIR
INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE INCREASED AND THEIR BENEFITS DECREASED!!!!! HERE WE GO
PEOPLE. MY SISTER WORKS THERE AND IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT- GO TO THEIR HEALTH
SITE. THESE CORPORATIONS ARE ONLY GOING TO KEEP TAKING AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE
GOING TO LAY DOWN AND TAKE IT. PLEASE GET SOME GOOD OLE FASHION GUMPTION AND
FILL OUT YOUR TWU CARD AND SEND IT IN TODAY.
RESPONSE:
Here it comes Friends! We have been warning all of you! If you
work at the MGM/Mirage and are reading this, you better call the Local 721 NOW
and start getting your cards in!
This has been on the website since the site was first put up
>>> CLICK HERE
<<< and it speaks of the possible insurance increase.
When have ANY of you been required to take a physical for health
insurance? We know NONE of us have EVER been required to do this. Why now?
Because of what we describe in the above link is more than likely the reason.
The Reader has relayed to us that, " IF THEY DON'T FILL
OUT THE SURVEY THEIR INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE INCREASED AND THEIR BENEFITS
DECREASED!!!!!" Well, what about the "results" of your
physical? Don't you think that maybe if you have high blood pressure, are a
smoker, have cancer history in your family, or many other things, that they will
not increase your premiums too? We believe that will also be the case, not just
an increase if you don't take the physical!
We are seeing a "trend" here. Remember, the casinos
belong to "The Nevada Resort Association" as we explained >>>
HERE <<< on
the website. Let us call it the "test".
Here are the current "tests" being conducted by the
casinos:
The Wynn: Confiscating the
Dealers tokes for redistribution to the floor, ultimately resulting in lower
salaries for the floor with their salaries being made up with tokes.
The Venetian/Palazzo: They plan
on pooling BOTH properties Dealer's tokes TOGETHER for redistribution (and if
Wynn succeeds in the NSC that redistribution MAY include the floor as
described above).
The MGM/Mirage: They are now
requiring ALL non-union employees to undergo a physical for their health
insurance coverage. This will result in HIGHER INSURANCE PREMIUMS and LOWER
COVERAGE to the non-union employees.
We believe that once these "tests" are complete that
these policies will be implemented at ALL casinos in Nevada.
People, the writing is on the wall! READ IT! SEND IN YOUR
CARDS TODAY before it is to late for all of us! Get the Union in NOW! Who will
be "tested" next and with what?
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #129) From a Dealer 10-4-07:
I don't understand why some people are still holding out on
sending in the cards. Don't you want at least the opportunity to get pay raises
and better benefits, don't you understand without a union that stuff is not
possible. For years we have been making minimum wage and continually paying more
for our insurance. Without doing something about it, those things are never
going to change. Sending in a card does not mean that you are against the bosses
or against the casino, it means that you care about your future, and the future
for others who decide to make dealing a career. We shouldn't be penalized for
making tokes, other departments aren't. Please send in your cards even if you aren't
sure what you want, give the rest of us a chance at getting a raise and better
benefits. Nobody wants to ruin Caesars Palace, I plan on working there for years
to come, I would like to see it become an even better job, and that IS possible.
Send in your cards, research what a union is, come to meetings, find out what
its all about. I hope you become interested in doing something about your
future, and securing what you have now.. I am pretty sure the Wynn wished they
had known what was around the corner.
RESPONSE:
Thanks for your feedback. We too find it hard to understand why
people are waiting on sending in cards. We can tell you though, we ARE getting
cards in EVERY day. People are mailing them in. It's just for some reason people
do not see things as being eminent.
Yes, The Wynn did not know what was around the corner. We do. We
must become active NOW to protect our livelihoods!
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #128) From a 21 Dealer 10-3-07:
What are you willing to do for a friend? If a friend needs
your help and it will not cost you anything, cash or time, would you do it for
them? We assume most of you will say "yes".
With that in mind, how many friends do you have at Caesars
Palace? Even if they are just "work friends". I think we all have
many for the most part.
Okay, so we know you would help out your friends,
especially if it costs you nothing and you are not obligated in any way.
So, many of your friends would like a Union at Caesars
Palace. All you have to do is mail in a card. Yes, it may require a small bit
of effort by manually filling it out, but isn't a friend worth the time it
takes for you to fill out a card, place a stamp on it and mail it in?
When you do that for your friend and once we petition the
NLRB for a vote for Union representation, please once again consider all of
your friends who want the Union and vote "yes" for them.
Just because you have mailed in a card and voted yes for
the Union, that does NOT mean you have to join the Union (but you will have
made it available to your friends, and they will appreciate what you have done
for them for a long time to come).
Even if you do NOT join the Union, you WILL be covered by
the Union employees contract. That means you will get the same benefits as
being a member (like pay raises and better benefits), but without actually
having to be a member. That means you can "have your cake and eat it
too". Now how many times in life can you actually do that?
If you do decide that you do want to be a member of the
Union, your are NOT required to pay Union Dues. That's right! Nevada is a
"Right to Work" State, which means you do NOT have to belong to any
Union where you work, and if you do, you do NOT have to pay dues. That's a
FACT.
So, out of the several hundred Dealers at Caesars Palace
who send in cards, we are willing to bet that at least one of them is a friend
of yours. Want to be a "real" friend? Help them get/achieve what
they want. It costs you nothing and actually will provide you with benefits.
WHY would you want to deny your friends something that
costs you nothing?
Send in your card, vote yes, and then don't join the Union
if you don't want to. But please do not deny your friends, unless of course
you are one of the rare people in this world who has no friends in or out of
work. If that's the case, join the Union and make some friends and add some
happiness to your life.
RESPONSE:
What this reader has written is so true.
This Union drive is not about pitting people against each
other, it is about all of us coming together. It is not about being right or
wrong. Why would anyone want to hold out? It really makes no sense to us why
anyone would. But that is our opinion and we realize that as individuals we
all have different opinions. However, don't you all think having a
"common goal" is something we can all share in? We know the Union
means different things to different people, but one thing it means to everyone
is "UNITY". There is no way any individual can negotiate better
working conditions, job security or wages by themselves. We need the strength
of numbers. This is our opportunity.
So many times we hear Dealers say things like, "We
should've organized years ago. That has been our mistake." But, we
didn't. Do we want to continue to say that for decades to come? Wouldn't it be
better if we say, "We are so happy we made the decision to organize, why
didn't we do it sooner."
Come "Friends", the time is now. The place is
Caesars Palace. Let us lead the way to happiness and worry-free careers.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #127) From an Extra-Board Dealer 10-3-07:
D
RESPONSE:
This is a fine example of how little they really care for us. We
do not have a current Employee manual, and haven't had one for years now. I
would assume they issued you one when you were hired? Have you read it about
Maternity Leave? Is it addressed in there? We are trying to find the answer for
you, but having no luck so far. We do not know if there are Federal Laws
concerning this or not. With a Union we would definitely have it addressed. We
do know that if you were a Union employee, that their contracts allow up to one
year for Maternity Leave. Non-Union? We have been told six months, but are not
sure if that is with FMLA or not. It is to bad you can not get any answers from
HR. What are they being paid for? Just to "discipline"?
We did address the Maternity Leave partially on this website
>>> CLICK HERE <<<
to read what we originally posted about it.
We have found that there is no "Federal Law" covering
maternity leave as far as we can determine. >>> CLICK
HERE <<< to see what we found on the internet. As you
scroll down the page you will see the laws by different countries.
You see people, we need a Union now, so when you do find
yourself in a situation and are getting "screwed" you won't have to
say, "We need a Union" when something hits home. Protect yourselves
NOW before anything happens that a Union may be able to address for you. If we
do NOT have a Union in place, then it may be to late.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #126) From a Dealer 10-3-07:
By the way, the thieving rate in our dealers lounge is out of
control. I hear about money being stolen from girls purses WEEKLY. I'm not
pointing any fingers, but there is a good 6 minute window from when all dealers
leave the break room to go back on to the floor, and the returning ones to get
back up to the dealers lounge. They should re-name it "Anyone's
Lounge"
RESPONSE:
We have also heard of this problem. We used to have a porter
stationed in our lounge on all shifts. They were a deterrent to potential
thieves. Caesars Palace has determined we do not need a porter in our lounge
because it costs them to much money. Also, our lounge at one time was for
"Dealers Only", but again, that policy has been changed to where now
anyone who works at Caesars Palace seem to be able to come and go as they
please. It costs to much to give the Dealers their own lounge according to
management.
These are things that can and will be addressed by Union
representation.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #125) From a Dealer 10-3-07:
How about us poor pregnant women?? Its bad enough that all of
the non-smokers have to inhale second-hand smoke day after day, but is it right
that an unborn fetus be subjected to possible birth defects because David from
Alabama needs his nicotine fix? Why is it so much to ask for a non-smoking sign
at a pregnant woman's table??
RESPONSE:
We sympathize with your concerns. Unfortunately, the
"wisdom" of our "leaders" believes that to show any kind of
"consideration" to any Dealer with any type of "medical
condition" will be viewed as either "discriminatory" or "favoritism".
We do NOT agree with their assessment, but we are not yet organized so there is
nothing we can do about it. We are at the mercy of their heartless rules.
These are things that can and will be addressed by Union
representation.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #124) From a Dealer 10-3-07:
Come On Paris, Bally's, Rio, Wild Bills, Harrah's Vegas, LETS
MAKE THIS A SIX STOP STRATEGY!!! START FILLING OUT YOUR CARDS TODAY FOR A TOTAL
CORPORATE FILING! PROTECT YOURSELVES AND JOIN THE UNION DRIVE! Caesars Atlantic
City is already union. Caesars Vegas is collecting cards now as well as Harrah's
in Laughlin. JOIN US AND START YOUR DRIVE TODAY. WE WILL ALL HELP YOU!
RESPONSE:
We love it! "LETS MAKE THIS A SIX STOP STRATEGY!!!"
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #123) From a Wynn Dealer 10-3-07:
Wynn Dealer here. Just a note from personal experience. You
yourself, really need to distinguish between the benefit of joining a union or
not. Some of you will encounter pro and some will encounter no. What you feel
from education of the fact is the only way you will know what you should do. It
may be disheartening to learn that others do not share your same frame of mind
on matters, (again, educate yourselves) but remember to allow that and not
judge. It is a hard lesson, and I have had to learn it as well. If it were up to
me? I would vote yes to the union at Caesars! Be strong!
RESPONSE:
Thanks for writing. We agree with your post. The main theme
being "educate yourself". It may seem like work, but it is your
future that is on the line. A little work now equals a secure future and
easier life down the road.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #122) From a Caesars AC Dealer 10-2-07
(posted with permission from the author who posted this on another website):
As I have posted time and time again, it is a FEDERAL LAW
that you are allowed to organize and form a union. A company CANNOT fire anyone
that wants to be part of a Collective Bargaining Agreement.
I personally was one of 40 or so dealers at Caesars AC that was handing out and
collecting union cards when our drive first started (wow, been almost a year
now). Yes, I am still there. Now, you do have to realize that all of our union
talk and organizing happened on our breaks- and either in our break room, or up
in our cafeteria (of course, also before and after work). It is ill-advised to
do anything on the casino floor- even the UAW people strongly suggested this.
Yes, we also had our spies. There was even a time when we started wearing
"UAW-UNION YES" wristbands, and could see that some supervisors (as
well as our shift-bosses) were going around and seeing who was wearing them. It
got to be quite comical, since just about all of us were ("Oh, looking for
this?" as we rolled up our sleeves). There was NOTHING they could do about
it.
So what if you have spies? As long as everyone keeps their cool, and doesn't do
anything stupid, you'll be fine in your organizing efforts. Actually, seeing our
"uppers" sweat, it was very entertaining at times.
RESPONSE:
That our friends is the "words from the horse's
mouth".
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #121) From a Caesars Palace Dealer 10-2-07
(posted with permission from the author who posted this on another website):
We hear about "teamwork" often in the casino
industry. I am proud to have been part of the best team in the world, the U.S.
Military. The "ultimate team".
In the military, everyone from the Commanding Officer to the New Recruit all
have many things in common, one of which is a contract.
We are constantly bombarded with the theory of "teamwork" in the
casinos. Funny thing is, there are those with contracts and those without. Many
do not consider that "teamwork". It's the "haves and have-nots".
There is no team spirit in that no matter what facade is presented.
Once we ALL have a contract, as in the military, then and only then, can we work
as a "team".
For those who have a contract in the casino business to continually fight to
keep a contract away from every employee on the "team" implies greed, separation
and poor leadership.
We can argue about "words" and rip apart what each other has to say
until the end of time, but until we are all on equal footing, we will never be a
true "team". That's the bottom line.
Because the corporations who we work for will not willfully provide every worker
with a contract, we are only left with one option to receive equality, and that
is to organize.
Every dealer who is reading this, I urge you all to contact either the United
Auto Workers (for those in AC and the eastern states) or the Transport Workers
Union of America (Las Vegas and western states) and tell them you want
representation. Stand up and be counted.
Tell your casino execs that you do truly want to be part of the
"team", but to do so you must be equally respected and receive the
same treatment every employee in your company receives, including the CEO.
He/she has a contract, so begin there.
RESPONSE:
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #120) From "Other" 10-2-07:
I think it is important to let the dealers know that if they
sit by and wait for other dealers to sign cards, we might not get enough. Maybe
the other dealers are waiting for the other dealers to sign cards also. So do
your part, and print and sign a card today.
Thank you
RESPONSE:
See our "Response" to the next feedback.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #119) From a 21 Dealer 10-2-07:
Dear Dealers
Look the time to act is NOW stop screwing around. Let me tell you if you are sitting
on your card you are not looking out for your future. I know you may think
nothing will happen, believe me it has already happened. WAKE UP Time to act is
now.
Please my co-workers do not just rely on the goodwill of these major
corporations they will not give you a inch till you all DEMAND it of the CORPS.
SO SEND IN YOU T.W.U. CARDS IN RIGHT AWAY
Look, all of you have been saying we have mailed our cards in, Please be honest
with yourselves have you REALLY MAILED THEM IN.
RESPONSE:
When the Dealers at The Wynn organized they did it the
"traditional way". They had over 40 Dealers on their "organizing
committee" (OC) who were all actively passing out and collecting A-Cards in
their break areas. As they collected cards, they checked off each Dealers name
from a list they had. They knew exactly who had and had not signed a card at all
times. They did not use the internet the way we are using it. We can tell you
all, eventually we too will be organizing in the "traditional way".
This website just gave us a jump-start on the effort and is able to get the word
out to the masses quickly.
We would like to have 40 Dealers on the "OC" just as
they did at The Wynn. If you would like to join us, contact us and let us
know. Or contact the TWU Organizers.
We can tell you all, we have a great number of cards already
turned in. Has anyone seen anyone suspended or terminated because of the Union
drive? No? Think about that. NOBODY was ever fired from the Wynn or from any
of the AC casinos for signing a card or organizing. It is our Federal Legal
right to organize. Those rights are for you to use. How many people in other
countries would die for the rights we have and don't use?
For those of you who have said that you have mailed in your
card, eventually the "in-house" organizers will know the truth as to
who has and hasn't. Of course they will take that list to their grave, but
they will know.
Just think about it, a Union of Dealers in Las Vegas and many
working at Caesars Palace. You get a contract just like our CEO has. You now
have a LOT less stress. That alone is worth the effort.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #118) From a Full-Time Dealer 10-2-07:
HEY WELCOME HARRAH'S Laughlin! Be diligent and stand up and
fight for the security of our tips and health benefits. Not to mention, a raise
sure would be nice out of the record breaking profits every quarter. Remember
everyone, as soon as we file, our tokes and benefits are locked in making no
difference how the Supreme Court rules in the Wynn case. We will be a voting
force and will remember the politicians and judges that ruled in his favor! Send
in your TWU cards now.!!!
RESPONSE:
Together the Dealers of Nevada can have a voice. If we had
organized years ago, we would not have seen what happened at The Wynn. No Union
employee has had to go through what they had to at The Wynn. We must ALL act NOW
while we can.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #117) From a Full-Time Dealer 10-2-07:
COME ON ALL MY FELLOW DEALERS AT CAESARS! Stand up and be
proud! For those of you that are just beginning in the gaming industry -HELP US
FIGHT FOR YOU- most of us will be out of the business in the next 5 to 10 years
but we have seen the greed of the corporations- take -take- taking from us. JOIN
TOGETHER AND BE STRONG!! PROTECT YOUR FUTURE.
Some of you may not think you will be in the gaming industry very long. Most of
us thought the same thing when we started out. I love my job! It's unique! I
love Caesars Palace! No matter who owns it. But now is the time to protect the
benefits you have. Let's not forget Steve Wynn always setting a precedent. Do
you think he will lose? Are you willing to risk your livelihood on a chance that
the Supreme Court will rule against him. LOL! Look at all the casinos that are
joining in- don't wait- be a part of history. TOGETHER WE CAN BE A POLITICAL
FORCE AS WELL!! SIGN A TWU CARD TODAY AND MAIL IT!!!!!
RESPONSE:
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
(Post #116) From Caesars Palace Dealers 10-1-07:
Just want to comment on the passing of
an extremely nice day shift dealer Tim Lee. He was such a Joy to work with and a
true gentleman. I can't remember a time that I didn't see him without a warm
smile. You could always catch him on his breaks practicing his ballroom dancing
in the hallway. May he forever be dancing in heaven!
He will truly be missed.
(Post #115) From a Dice Dealer 10-1-07:
Did you see where Foxwoods in Connecticut has petitioned for
a vote for the Union? We need to get everyone onboard at Caesars so we are not
left in the dust.
RESPONSE:
Yes, we are very aware of the Foxwoods situation. We have placed
the info in several areas on the website here. If you would like to read about
their petition you can CLICK
HERE.
We know the Dealers Local 721 in Las Vegas is receiving more
cards every day from not only caesars Palace, but several other casinos as well.
The TWU reps are currently out of town spending time with their families at
home, but are scheduled to return very soon. Hopefully we will have enough cards
in to petition for a vote ourselves soon. Everyone get their cards in so we can
get this moving. Don't hesitate. If we get in 100% of the dealers cards in, all
the better!
If you have ANY questions about the Union you can send in
Feedback asking what you want to know. CLICK
HERE to submit your questions. If you want a personal reply you
must include your email address, otherwise you will not be identified to us and
we will post and respond here.
Please, make sure you print a TWU
Authorization Card fill it out and mail it in today. Tell your
friends about this site! Print extra copies for them!
