We have listed some casinos
specifically on the left side of this page. However, we get "Feedback"
from many Dealers who do not identify where they work, or Feedback which can be
considered "For All Dealers". So, below on this page you will find
those Feedbacks. Please make sure you read these Feedbacks as well and submit
your own Feedback if you please.
If
you would like to have your own website for the Dealers at your casino, please CONTACT
US ASAP so we can help you get it started.
With
a website dedicated to the Dealers at your casino, the responses and information
can be much more accurate coming from the people who know exactly what the
conditions specific to your situation is.
Visit the NEW
BULLETIN BOARD
for the TWU Local "721"
(we
are still working out the bugs and appreciate your patience)
GENERAL FEEDBACKS
Post
#42 A Rio Dealer 3-8-08:
Couldn't agree
more with post#37. If all the HET LV dealers unite and vote the union in, there
will be so many of us that the management can no longer dictate the dealers on
how we distribute our hard-earned and well-deserved tokes. More importantly,
they couldn't get their hand in the dealer's cookie jar to give to the
supervisors.
Harrah's Corp offers health insurance to part time dealers. Wow, how
nice of them. They care about our health and our family. NOT!!! All they care
about is to make money (interest) off of our money that we put in the health
insurance. From reading old posts at Caesar's website, I learned that Cigna is
only doing the administrative part, Harrah's Corp is handling the money part.
Well I'm a part time dealer. I enrolled myself in the medical coverage
paying $76 a month. I understand that this insurance doesn't cover
wellness/routine exams. Last month I went to see my doctor for some medical
problem. He sent me for a blood test to make sure he's making the right
diagnosis. Low and behold! I opened my mail today and found a $284+ from the
lab! Plus a $200+ bill from my dentist. Cigna denied all those charges. I
should've hired a lawyer to read the fine print on the insurance that they
offer us part timers before I went to see my doctor! They sell this propaganda
that they got the part timers covered. But in truth, ALL HARRAH'S CARES ABOUT
IS TO MAKE MONEY. AND TO MAKE MONEY OFF OF OUR MONEY.
In the meantime, there are people who work at Rio who are union members
who pay $0 in their insurance, zip, nada, wala, zilch!!! PLEASE SEND IN THOSE
UNION AUTHORIZATION CARDS! TIMES HAVE CHANGED! WE NEED THE UNION MORE THAN
EVER.
RESPONSE:
Yes, Harrah's IS
"self-insured". THEY are the insurance company! Cigna is only used
as an administrator. It is like outsourcing a part of HR, only for insurance
coverage, because Cigna does have medical experts whereas Harrah's does not.
Although, we can guess that Harrah's has a "guideline" which they
have provided Cigna to follow, such as paying claims or not.
It is terrible that
they take your money every month and do not pay your bills. What do they
cover? Just "Major Medical" maybe?
Yes, Culinary workers
pay ZERO for their health insurance premiums, this is true.
Insurance premiums is
just another way for the company to bilk the workers. They are doing their
best to "profit" from your premiums.
ATTENTION: The
supreme court hearing for the Wynn dealers vs. Steve Wynn is coming up next
month. Are your tokes secure?
RESPONSE:
Unfortunately, there
is only ONE casino where the Dealers tokes are secure...Caesars Palace. Do the
rest of you want yet another reason to want to work at CP? We sure hope not.
We hope that when it is all over and the Courts decide, that it won't be JUST
Caesars Palace Dealers whose tokes are secure.
GET YOUR CARDS IN NOW
and GET YOUR NLRB ELECTION PETITION FILED!
I work at the
..... and am interested in setting up the union there. How do I go about
starting up?
RESPONSE:
I took out the name
of the casino this Reader works at so we do not give them advance notice the
Union is coming in ;)
I would like to
give Kudos to this Reader for realizing that they need to organize their
casino. To get it rolling call either Joe Carbon or Steve Roberts at the Local
"721" offices at 476-0648. I look forward to working with you!
Wouldn't it be
GRAND if we all petitioned the union at the same time, voted YES for the union,
and all sat down at the bargaining table together! Think of the power!
Ask any culinary
worker what they make an hour, what they pay for benefits, what kind of
discipline they have, and then look at what you have. And then ask yourself why?
I think we all know the answer to that.
They want you to
think your not being loyal if you want better wages, better benefits, better
discipline. And most of all complete say over your tokes. How many times have
you heard, Dummy up and deal, or don't let the door hit you in the #*% on the
way out? Do you think a culinary worker ever hears that?
Lets get those
cards signed and get them in, so we together can change the industry!
RESPONSE:
It would be AWESOME
if every Harrah's property petitioned for a vote all at the same time! The
Execs would pull their own hair out! It IS possible my friends, all you have
to do is submit you CONFIDENTIAL
A-Card to get the train rolling!
As for
"loyalty", is Harrah's "loyal" to you? They are
self-insured and don't they raise your premiums each year? At Caesars Palace
they are working on a way to get the employees to pay for their food now. Is
that "loyal"? How is your 401(k)? Loyal? Do each of you have a copy
of ALL "policy manuals", including one for each style of game? Yet
they just may write you up for procedural errors. Is that "loyal"?
How big was YOUR bonus last year? Loyal?I am sorry, but when you are
just a "number" to them, that does not display "loyalty"
in any sense of the word.
As a HET employee,
I know how crucial it is for us dealers to be unionized! Everyday Harrah's cuts
costs, benefits, food, uniforms, 401k, and a mere pittance of a raise, they hire
us, just to start a paper trail and let us go, Harrah's does not like long term
employees, they think we are a liability, they much prefer the 3 year employment
plan!
Do not let
yourself believe that Harrah's wouldn't just love to take a share of our tokes
to cut costs! Behold...you have been warned. Now just do something about it. Do
something about your future. Don't just settle for the scraps they will throw
you. Get those cards coming in, so we can petition and join the others at the
negotiating table!
RESPONSE:
Just the other day
I was telling people how I found it odd that a casino hires Dealers only to
try to fire them from their first day on the job. There is no
"motivation" they provide, just dictation. They MAY give away ONE
free show in a contest open to EVERY employee, which is a 5000-to-1 shot at
winning. Oh Boy! Yet they want us all to "promote" any new show or
restaurant to our customers. Sorry, but I do NOT promote anything I haven't
tried.
Every time they
held meetings at Caesars, more and more cards came pouring in! They know every
time they open their mouths it just pisses more people off, which is probably
why they are keeping quiet now.
Just remember
fellow dealers, that nothing in our business is going to change unless we take
the steps to make it happen. Next year we get to go to 7.75 an hour, next year
we get to probably pay more for our insurance, next year we get to maybe keep
our tokes, and then maybe not, your future and security is up for grabs right
now unless you do something about it!
Please keep those
cards coming in so that sometime in the future we can look forward to some kind
of positive change. Instead of the usual 3 cent raise, or the raise in our
insurance, or even to have more of our say in tokes taken away!
RESPONSE:
We just hope they keep up with "Mandatory Captive
Audience" meetings at the other casinos! Dealers are NOT ignorant, as
management plays us all to be, and when we are LIED to, it shows us exactly
who they are.
Hooray, and
congratulations to the CP dealers for there first day of negotiations!! I am so
excited to see where we get to go from here! It is just a matter of time until
we have a contract! I urge all the other casinos to submit cards and come join
us at the bargaining table!
RESPONSE:
It was a HISTORIC DAY in Las Vegas and for the Dealers
of Caesars Palace! To read about their first day of negotiations, please
>>> CLICK
HERE <<< then fill out and mail in your cards to join the
Dealers of Caesars Palace and The Wynn.
I work at the
Monte Carlo Casino, and after the fire on 1-25-08 I was really worried about my
job. Then MGM Mirage announced they were going to pay every employee all pay and
tips and benefits for a period of 30 days or until the Hotel re-opened. I was so
happy, then I found out they had disaster insurance, and their act of kindness
had nothing to do with their generosity. It was not costing MGM Mirage a
dime.
Then MGM Mirage
said they were increasing everyone's wages to make everyone the same, saying
that it has nothing to do with the union organizing (B.S.). Do you mean to tell
me that someone who has been a dealer for the last eight years does not mean
anymore to MGM Mirage than the dealer who has been there 1 year? When you start
at $5.25 per hour and it takes you eight years to get to $7.75, you mean to tell
me that I do not have more experience than a dealer started out at $6.50 a year
ago, and now is making the same amount of money that I am?
MGM Mirage gave us
a raise one week and let go all the extra board dealers the next week. Dealers
with 2 years got demoted from full-time to extra board, and dealers with 5 years
or less had to go to different shifts.
So they gave
everybody a raise, and then the next week, fired people, thanks for the raise.
NO REPRESENTATION
MEANS NO JOB SECURITY ! ! !
RESPONSE:
All we can say is "WOW!
We are so very sorry to hear about the layoffs and
demotions. People, this is a fine example WHY EVERY DEALER in this Country
needs to organize NOW.
It is time we all join together, not take the attitude
of, "I am a Dealer at ..., what do I care about a Dealer at ..." We
ARE all in the same boat, no matter where you work!
Dual-rates at
Horseshoe Bossier City are getting screwed. We were promised 3 dealing days a
week and are getting 0-8 hours a week. Can they do this? This is not a true
dual-rate position, but a cheap floor job.
RESPONSE:
Like we repeat over and over again, THEIR PROMISES MEAN
NOTHING, and this is just one more example.
Yes, as long as you do NOT have a "contract",
they can do it. Sorry. We suggest that you and your fellow employees contact
the Union ASAP and get an organizing effort started in your casino.
I was reading a comment about why dealers are paid
what we are paid, the " supply and demand"
Andrew Pascal told us in one of the infamous meetings
after they stole our money that minimum wage was the going rate. I remember in
the late 80s the owners in major league baseball were participating in
collusion. I understand that this is illegal. Just wanted to throw that out
there.
RESPONSE:
Yes, they like to say Dealers are paid what they are
because it is the "industry standard". Well, we are going to RESET
THE STANDARD!
The casinos are "price fixing" every day! That
is what the Nevada Resort Association does! They all get together and say,
"This is what we do at our casino" and everyone follows suit. They
set the rates for rooms, comps, drinks, players clubs, everything! Including
wages!
I was trying to get dealers to
send in their cards, andone fearful dealer at the
Mirage said Caesars Palace dealers who organized lost their 401k company
match. Poof, gone… Could you find out definitively and get that
information disseminated? What happened to their earned retirement
accounts?
RESPONSE:
Yes, I am a dealer at
Caesars Palace (Rumplestiltskin). As for us losing our 401(k), that is pure
BS! We still have our 401(k) and our company match.
Know this, once the
Union is voted in, NOTHING can change WITHOUT being negotiated by the
Dealers Negotiating Committee (Dealers elected by the Dealers) and then
voted on by ALL Dealers in the "bargaining unit", resulting in a
Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA-contract). This is called locking in
"status quo" and is protected by Federal Law (National Labor
Relations Act).
This is not to say that
our 401(k) will not change through negotiations, as it may. But if it does
change, it will be for the better, not the worse. Also know, no matter what
happens in the future, ALL of the money in our 401(k)s WILL REMAIN OUR MONEY
until we take it out at retirement. We will NOT lose one red cent (other
than through the change of the market). They CAN NOT take a penny away from
us EVER.
Unfortunately, the
"fearful dealer" at the Mirage has been misinformed, and probably
by Mirage Management (one of their many anti-union tactics).
So MGM/Mirage gave a huge pay raise for it's dealers. Let's see, 6.33 to
7.75 = 11.36 a day. That's 113.60 a pay period. 227.20 a month. WOW!!!!! They
made you guys rich now. I hope we are worth a little more than this. I hope
that this doesn't buy off our union effort.
Sign a card and vote yes. Do not let them buy us off with a mere
pittance.
RESPONSE:
And to think, they
gave the "minimum wage" increase a year in advance! But of course
they "pondered" this idea for what, eight years? Brilliant! Simply
brilliant! Those 5 watt light bulbs sure do glow! I imagine they
"paid" some "Union Buster" several million to come up with
this brainstorm too! We hope they keep playing us for "fools"
because it sure is helping our efforts to organize!
I noticed that MGM/Mirage Dealers finally received pay raises. That is
almost exactly what happened with the Harrah’s properties at Lake Tahoe. Pay
raises are always welcomed, but the timing and sincerity of management’s
decisions are a bit questionable.
We used to get an annual 3% raise until Spring ‘07. Then, they froze
our wages.
Fast forward to November, when our website went up. Less than ONE WEEK
later, we also got our raises back, and they were retroactive to whatever date
they were frozen.
That same week, in our captive audience Union-busting meetings,
Management tried to make it sound like they had been fighting for us for the
previous 6 months to get our pay raises back. After all, they claimed to be
our “representative” in the same way that Steve-O did in the meeting where
he “apologized” for ripping off Dealers at his property.
Yeah, sure. They wanted us to believe that they had been fighting for us
all along, and that’s why we saw NO memos in the meantime regarding their
efforts to “represent” us to get our pay raises back. Plus, it was obvious
that the raises were done in a hurry, because they told us that it may take a
while to get all of the amounts correct. If they had been fighting for us all
along, wouldn’t they be more prepared with the correct amounts?
It’s not much of a raise. However, it will be enough to cover all of
our Union dues. Oh, they didn’t bother mentioning that.
Look at the timing of all of this. For how many years have you been
without raises, and for how long have they known about Mirage/Mandalay Bay
websites? There’s no coincidence here. Thank our Union efforts and TWU for
the raises.
More importantly, don’t be fooled by this cookie. They still have
total control.
RESPONSE:
They sure
underestimate the intelligence of the Dealers don't they? They really think we
are a bunch of uneducated morons. They look at us as their
"opponent" for some reason. Well, NEVER underestimate your
"opponent"! But then maybe they are the ones who are not so intelligent?!
If things go our way in court will it cripple the union movement? In my
opinion the short sighted dealers in this town will figure "what do we
need a union for, the law will protect our tokes."
I personally would rather lose in court and get them back through
collective bargaining. It will take longer, but if the court case goes uncle
Steve's way, then it would force the hand of every dealer in town to go with
us. I understand that this affects all tip earners not just dealers. My first
priority is the group that I am a member. Am I wrong 2 think this? For me, the
union movement is way more important than anything else as far as dealers go.
If we all join together it won't matter what the law says. Remember the
culinary strike. They were gone for about a week, then the casinos caved in to
their demands.
RESPONSE:
Hopefully, the Dealers
in this town are not "short sighted" and realize that the Union is
about MORE than just "toke security".
Dealers, think about
this, a Union bartender is paid about $3000 per month, while Dealers are paid
around $1000 per month. What can YOU do with an extra $2000 per month? Not
worth the effort?
Cocktail waitresses
pay $0 (ZERO) for health insurance, while Dealers pay anywhere from $150 to
over $400 per month in premiums alone! What can YOU do with the extra money?
Not worth the effort?
Union workers ALL have
wage increase GUARANTEED in their contracts, while Dealers have NOTHING
guaranteed. Not worth the effort?
All Unions have
discipline outlined in their contracts that can not be sidestepped or changed
on an individual basis. They have grievance procedures which allow for independent
review from outside arbitrators. What this does is do away with
"at-will" status, which equates to "job security". Not
worth the effort?
Unfortunately, as it
stands right now, the Dealers at The Wynn will NOT get their tokes back
through collective bargaining. Why? Because EVERY Dealer in this city is not a
"721" member. If every Dealer WAS a member, they COULD get their
tokes back.
If the courts rule FOR
the Wynn Dealers and AGAINST Steve-O, does it end? No it does not! The Law is
already clear on the matter, but Steve-O decided he is above the Law anyway.
Just because the Law is on the books, that does not mean it will not be
challenged by "innovators" such as Steve-O with FAT bank accounts.
However, a Collective Bargaining Agreement is protected by FEDERAL LAW, not
State Law (which is written by the casinos). The casinos may run this State,
but they do NOT run the Country!
Not to disrespect the
Culinary workers, but when they went on strike did the casino shut down? Nope.
Dealers are the ONLY work force who can hit them where it hurts, the casino.
This is why they are fighting us so. When the Slot Techs at CP went Union a
few years back, they did it unopposed by CP. Why were they able to organize
unopposed but the casinos will spend MILLIONS fighting the Dealers? There is a
clue there my friends. Because the Dealers will be THEE strongest work force
in the industry!
It is not our goal to
hurt the industry. Of course we want our employers to be successful, or we
will be without a job. However, we are tired of watching them record record
profit after record profit, feed the executives lucrative bonuses, build more
casinos (with their "profits) in Las Vegas and diluting the market while
spreading thin the customer base resulting in lower tokes for ALL of us, while
they are continually taking from the Dealers. If they were to pay Dealers
more, provide better benefits to them, we would NOT capsize the industry. They
would just have "lower" record profits each year.
MGM/Mirage is claiming
the "pay raise" they have given their Dealers a year in advance of
when they will be mandated by Law to do so, will cost them about $10 million
dollars. How many Properties? 10? That is what, one million per property? You
think that hurt them? That is about the same bonus they will be paying ONE
executive on each property! What if they had tripled the "raise"?
$30 million? 3 million per property? You think that would hurt them? NO WAY!
I read in
"comment" sections of the online newspaper articles that if Dealers
go Union the casinos will just pass the cost on to the customers. What a laugh
that is! The casinos are already raising costs to the customers! Las Vegas
used to be "free" when it came to rooms and food and such. Today a
room will cost you up to $1000 per night. A show will cost about $150 each.
Diner will cost about $75 per person. They have already "passed it
on" to the customers, but they FAILED to give it back to the employees!
They are keeping it for themselves!
I hope dealers at MGM-Mirage corporation are not swayed in their
union vote by this sudden interest in dealer wage inequity and need for cost
of living increases. Remember what they arbitrarily give they can arbitrarily
take away.
It is however interesting That Harrah's makes no attempt at staving
off any union movement. I believe they (management) feel confident that they
have been proactive in their anti-union fight and a vote will fail. Those that
work there know what that means.
Dealers surely must realize that no concessions will be given to
dealers by Harrah's. With decreasing toke income and near non existent wage
increases, what other incentive is needed to seek union representation.
Everyone is feeling the effect of rising energy and food costs. Inflation
pressures in general will guarantee you a lower standard of living in the
years to come. If the time for representation is not now, than when.
RESPONSE:
We too hope they
are not swayed, but rather see what the Union has done for them even before
they have organized. Imagine the possibilities WHEN they organize!
We would like to
point out when the Dealers at Caesars Palace were organizing, management
returned their "toke by-laws" to them and also reduced the increase
in their new insurance premiums (although they still increased, but not as
much). Both of these "acts" were a failed effort to thwart the Union
drive.
What EVERY Dealer
in this nation needs is a Collective Bargaining Agreement where EVERYTHING is
outlined in a negotiated C-O-N-T-R-A-C-T.
Hello! First of
all I want to thank you for this website. The dealers have needed this for
much longer than they realize.
I read in the
paper about the MGM/Mirage pay raise. What I want to know is what about those
who have been at the company for years? Are they going to make more than a new
hire or not?
RESPONSE:
Thanks for visiting the "721" website! Actually, the Dealers in
Las Vegas have always known they needed a Union, but it has taken a financial
tragedy to wake them up (Wynn seizing tokes for redistribution). There are
MANY more issues than just the tokes/pay that need attended to though. Things
like vacation policies, health insurance costs/coverage, seniority issues,
disciplinary policies and working conditions.
As we understand it, it does look as if a "day one" Dealer will
be making as much as a Dealer with many years with the company. Reading the Mandalay
Bay website the raise there equates to about
$.03 more than they would have had anyway and does not seem to address any
difference in pay for those who have been at their property for multiple
years.
We would like to take this opportunity to address/respond to the comments
made by MGM/Mirage executives and our opinion on the pay raise over-all as
well.
First of all, SCORE ONE FOR THE UNION! The pay
raises the MGM/Mirage is giving to all of their Dealers is a direct result of
the TWU organizing Dealers! Does anyone really think these raises would have
happened otherwise? Imagine what being a Member of Local 721 is going to do
for you if just the "threat" of organizing gets you better wages.
MGM/Mirage executives state, "Murren added
that the raises did not come about as a response to potential union organizing
efforts targeting dealers at the company's Strip casinos."
"People will wonder and believe that, but we
came up with the idea of CityCenter in 2004 and our employment practices long
before any noise (about union organizing) was being made in the
marketplace," Murren said."
"In 2000, then MGM Grand paid $6.4 billion to
acquire Mirage Resorts. Five years later, the renamed MGM Mirage spent $7.9
billion to acquire Mandalay Resort Group. Dealers at the different properties
made different base hourly wages."
Okay, so the "mergers" took place in 2000 and 2005 and their
"employment practices" in 2004. Well, THIS IS
2008!!!!!! What took so long to implement the leveling of wages at
all of their properties? Up to EIGHT YEARS HAVE PASSED!
The bottom line is this, they gave these raises in response to the TWU's
organizing efforts...period.
We would also question the "Full- and
part-time dealers at MGM Mirage will receive cost-of-living increases every
April starting in 2009." What will be the percentage of the
COL raises? Yet to be determined? Are the COL raises GUARANTEED in a legally
binding agreement anywhere? No? Then in April 2009 they may say something to
the effect of, "We are terribly sorry, but our
record profits this year were not what we anticipated. In light of this, this
years COL raises will be held back and made up to all of you next year. Keep
up the great work!"
We will say this about the MGM/Mirage new Dealers' pay scale however...Thank
You Mr. Lanni for "raising the bar" for all "day one
Dealers" in the city. This will make wage negotiations at The Wynn and
Caesars Palace a bit easier. Now they have a starting point established by the
MGM/Mirage for the argument of "competitive wages"...$7.75 per hour
(instead of the normal $6.33 per hour).
One other thing, it was stated by MGM/Mirage executives in response to what
Steve-O did that, "(MGM Mirage Chairman) Terry
Lanni has been very clear that we would not establish that program,"
Murren said. "No one has been more firm on this than Terry."
Well, is that "stand" in a legally binding agreement somewhere?
No? Things do have a tendency to "change" on short notice. And as
far as, "No one has been more firm on this than
Terry.", EVERY casino has told their Dealers, either through
captive audience meetings or though mailings, or both, the exact same thing.
No one, including Mr. Lanni, has yet to back it up by putting it into a
legally binding agreement with the Dealers.
Now, what about Retirement? Health Insurance? Favoritism? Working
conditions?
I've been led to believe that if enough cards are signed by dealers at a
particularhouse that makes the ballot vote unnecessary, that
the union is already givenauthorization to represent.Is
that true? Is there anything you'd like to offer as clarification?
RESPONSE:
Well, it sounds like management has been in your ear.
What you have "heard" or been told about the Authorization Cards
is NOT TRUE. An Election MUST be held.
The ONLY Union we know of that has that in place is the Culinary. Yet, they
refuse to represent the Dealers for some unknown reason.
The A-Cards show the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that the
workforce wants to VOTE on Union representation. For any workforce to obtain a
secret ballot held by the NLRB they must have a minimum of 30% of the work
force submit A-Cards to the Union. However, the TWU will normally not file for
the secret ballot with the NLRB until they have secured about 70% of the work
force's signed cards. This is to create a "cushion".
Once the NLRB is petitioned by a Union for a secret ballot, the employer
has up to 44 days to agree with the dates submitted and hold a scheduled secret ballot election.
The election will be conducted by representatives of the NLRB (Federal
Government) and nobody from management will be allowed within 75 feet of the
balloting room. No cameras will be allowed, surveillance or otherwise.
Keep in mind, that just because someone submits an A-Card, that does NOT
mean they are voting either for or against Union representation. The cards are
ONLY to secure an election process. Once inside the polls, ALL members of the
eligible voters will have the opportunity to vote either "YES" or
"no" on their ballot. The ballots are STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL and will
have no numbers or names on them to indicate who cast a particular ballot.
On election day, only eligible voters may enter the ballot room. There will be
DEALERS there representing both the Union and the company. They will BOTH
have a list of eligible voters which was provided by the company and checked by the
Union. Each eligible voter will have their name checked off the list by the
Dealer representatives once they receive their ballot. After the election, the "checklist" will be kept
by the NLRB so management will never even know who voted and who did not vote. The
NLRB Rep will hand a blank ballot to the voter. The ballot will have two
boxes, "YES" and "NO" on the ballot. The voter takes the
ballot to a covered poll and marks their ballot, folds it, then drops it in
the ballot box. At the end of the last designated ballot period, the box is
opened by the NLRB and the ballots are counted.
For an election either the "yes" or the "no" must
prevail by a simple majority (50% + 1).
Once upon a time, back when America had a strong middle class, it also
had a strong union movement.
These two facts were connected. Unions negotiated good wages and
benefits for their workers, gains that often ended up being matched even by
nonunion employers. They also provided an important counterbalance to the
political influence of corporations and the economic elite.
Today, however, the American union movement is a shadow of its former
self, except among government workers. In 1973, almost a quarter of
private-sector employees were union members, but last year the figure was down
to a mere 7.4 percent.
Yet unions still matter politically. And right now they’re at the
heart of a nasty political scuffle among Democrats. Before I get to that,
however, let’s talk about what happened to American labor over the last 35
years.
It’s often assumed that the U.S. labor movement died a natural death,
that it was made obsolete by globalization and technological change. But what
really happened is that beginning in the 1970s, corporate America, which had
previously had a largely cooperative relationship with unions, in effect
declared war on organized labor.
Don’t take my word for it; read Business Week, which published an
article in 2002 titled “How Wal-Mart Keeps Unions at Bay.” The article
explained that “over the past two decades, Corporate America has perfected
its ability to fend off labor groups.” It then described the tactics —
some legal, some illegal, all involving a healthy dose of intimidation —
that Wal-Mart and other giant firms use to block organizing drives.
These hardball tactics have been enabled by a political environment that
has been deeply hostile to organized labor, both because politicians favored
employers’ interests and because conservatives sought to weaken the
Democratic Party. “We’re going to crush labor as a political entity,”
Grover Norquist, the anti-tax activist, once declared.
But the times may be changing. A newly energized progressive movement
seems to be on the ascendant, and unions are a key part of that movement. Most
notably, the Service Employees International Union has played a key role in
pushing for health care reform. And unions will be an important force in the
Democrats’ favor in next year’s election.
RESPONSE:
Many of some of the
most educated people in the country know the NEED for the workers of this
country to be organized. Take a look at our economy today and ask yourself
"Why is it so?". It is because the corporations have declared
war on their workers, Union or not. The corporations have been very effective
in "brainwashing" the American worker into thinking they do not need
to be organized.
As the author points
out "In 1973, almost a quarter of private-sector employees were union
members, but last year the figure was down to a mere 7.4 percent." As
a result we are suffering as a nation.
Sure, the CEO's and
executives are making more money than they ever dreamed of. But they are ONLY
one person contributing to the economy. They may buy several homes or several
cars, but they only eat three meals a day and only drive one car at a time. As
a result, less cash is infused into the local economy where they live.
Those who work for the
CEO are getting LESS. Yet they represent hundreds and even thousands of
workers. They represent thousands of potential homeowners. They buy thousands
of cars. They eat 10's of thousands of meals a day. But, if they are not
making enough money to spend in their local economy, the economy hurts.
We like to point to an
article written by Professor Levens called "Union
Made". This is only one paper he has written on the importance
of Unions in our economy. Please take the time to read it. Then when you are
done, print out and sign and mail in you Authorization card. If you don't, it
is YOU who are partially responsible for the state of our economy.
Not wanting to mince words : WAKE UP DEALERS OF LAS VEGAS !
It took us six months to vote the union in. Why? The main one being
FEAR. Ooooh, what if someone finds out I sent in a TWU card. Get over that
fear. No one will find out unless you tell them. Sending in a card doesn't
vote the union in, it just gives you the right to choose if you want a union
or not.
Getting the word out has been slow and the lack of feedback astounds me.
I bet a lot of dealers don't even know there are websites to check out. I
didn't hear about our website until two months before we voted the union in.
For those of you who know about the websites, print out copies of feedbacks
from different casinos that you relate to, that hit very close to home, and
leave them in the break room for others to read (just make sure your name
and/or e-mail address is not printed anywhere). It might help, seeing what
other dealers have written, and it could encourage them to step forward, and
be a deciding factor on whether they send in a TWU card, knowing that others
have sent in theirs.
The Wynn and Caesar's dealers are here to help you. The Wynn dealers
helped and supported us, so that what happened to them, wouldn't happen to us.
We don't want you to take as long as we did to vote the union in, because of
our initial fear. Send in your TWU cards so you can protect yourselves. We did
it, So can you ! You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
We are not against management, and enjoy working with our co-workers and
the majority of our floor people. Unfortunately, these are not the people who
decide our fate. It is the Corporations we work for, and Corporate Management
who enforces the rules. We are numbers to them, and corporations will do
anything to save a buck at their employees expense, because they would be
stupid not to. What does waiting accomplish ? The corporations want you to
wait. At least if you send in your cards, you give yourselves an option, the
choice, to vote.
We had a landslide victory. 380 to 128. I can tell you the majority of
the people who voted "NO" were new hires with less than a years
experience, and the group of people that we have come to call "The
Favorite Few". These are the dealers that get along extremely well with
management, many were brought over to Caesar's by management, and they get
lots of little "perks". They were very helpful in creating division
amongst the dealers during the union drive.
I'd also like to address one more issue. In the feedbacks, I noticed
mention of the Asian dealers. I feel compelled to say that during the union
drive and vote, I found a renewed respect for these hard working individuals.
They are your friends! They were our greatest allies, despite how they were
threatened and intimidated. Our upper management put the fear of God into
them, concerning their green cards and references to deportation. They held
strong and persevered. Talk to them. You will find that they were mistreated
like everyone else, and were not happy.
Bottom line : We are just trying to protect our tokes, and get back what
we use to have, and hopefully improve on that with each new contract we
negotiate. That's right. That WE negotiate. The DEALERS, not the Corporations.
Please send in your TWU cards today. You are not alone. There is
strength in numbers, and we are there to help and support you every step of
the way, as we know you will help others, once you vote the union in.
RESPONSE:
This Reader has said
it all in their first line,
"WAKE
UP DEALERS OF LAS VEGAS !"
Want to "wait
and see" if your health insurance rates get better next year?
Want to "wait and
see" if coverage gets better?
Want to "wait and
see" if you get a pay raise to keep up with the cost of living?
Want to "wait and
see" if seniority will actually count?
Want to "wait and
see" if your vacation package stays the same?
Want to "wait and
see" if your retirement fund gets better?
Want to "wait and
see" if Steve-O wins or loses in court?
Want to "wait and
see" if YOUR management keeps their word?
Want to "wait and
see" if your tokes will be seized for redistribution?
Want to "wait and
see" if your disciplinary policies become fair?
Want to "wait and
see" if you are continually bled to death?
Want to "wait and
see" if your working conditions improve?
How long do you want
to "wait and see"?
How long have you been
in the casino business?
How many times have
things at your job gotten better?
What was your base pay
when you started in the casino business?
What is your base pay
today?
How many times has
management told you, "That's the way it is going to be"?
Yes, you can all
"wait and see", but if history is any indicator, you should already
know what lies in the future without being organized. Just take a close look
at what has already happened in your career.
Sure, you can accept
management's excuses as to "why" things are the way they are, or you
can be an adult and demand answers and fair treatment.
Or you can continue to
listen to what management tells you and respond by saying, "Yes masta",
and bow down to them and finish up by saying, "I'm so glad to have my
job, even though I know without me you would have no business".
You can settle for
"peanuts" while the people YOU work for have filet.
OR, you can give
yourselves a C-H-O-I-C-E and vote the Union in for a V-O-I-C-E in your future.
"Lock in" the meager things you have now, so it won't get worse next
year.
The Dealers at Caesars
Palace and The Wynn "waited" long enough!
I work at a Stations Casino. I have printed and sent in my TWU card.
I try to talk to dealers every day about how it would benefit us to unionize.
I am met with resistance much of the time. Most think it would be nice, but
are unwilling to think about doing anything else. There are many things wrong
for dealers at my place, the first being the hourly wage. I do not feel valued
at $7.10 an hour. Management has allowed this low wage forever because our
tips have more than made up for our take home. Well, now our take home has
been whittled away and I want management to pay me more per hour for all that
I am doing as a front line employee (I no longer feel that I am a team
member).
I don't know what else to do to get interest increased at my place,
I'm not knowing effective words to say. Any ideas?
RESPONSE:
Congratulations on
taking the first step in helping to organize YOUR casino by sending in your
Authorization Card!
What we have to
remember is that Dealers have been "conditioned" by management over
the last 40 or so years to be led around like sheep. This is how they have
kept their power and their profits. It is time for change TODAY. Yes, we like
most of our immediate supervisors and even share our off time with many of
them. But they too are "conditioned" by their supervisors, who in
turn are conditioned by corporate.
We will venture to
wager that MOST all of the Dealers at your property would welcome the Union
and the opportunity to have their collective voice united. It will just take
one or two people from your property to step up to the plate. It can be done
very discreetly as well. The Caesars Palace Union drive started with TWO
Dealers and ended up with nearly 400.
We have many ways
to "educate" the Dealers at your property without having to reveal
any Dealer there. You have completed the first step, now take the next one and
contact the TWU Reps at 476-0648 to set up a confidential meeting. Bring a
trusted friend. Nobody but you will ever know. Then, we will show you how to
"educate" the Dealers at your property and let them make an informed
choice. Your property will NOT allow the Union to come to you, you must come
to us. But they will NEVER know that you have.
Join the 1200
Dealers of Caesars Palace and The Wynn. Together we will be strong. Together
we will make the gaming business strong.
We have to find a
way to canvass the city. I'm unsatisfied with the lack of feedback on these
sites, and I'm partly to blame, as I've been in hiding. I'll be in touch,
because there are still so many who have only a rudimentary knowledge of what is
at stake here, and it is unfathomable, for the stakes are high. "The
Man" has run things at his discretion for too long, and gotten too
comfortable, and it is my belief that a wakeup call is in order. I'm worn down,
and sadly, taken for granted. Replaceable. Expendable. No more. The time is now,
to speak up and put an end to the times when one ill-chosen word from my
superiors can make me to feel as if I've one foot out the door. The inherent
infirmity of such a mindset is no longer acceptable for me now, and for many,
soon. Anyone who waits to see "what happens" deserves what they get.
Sad but indisputably true. The end.
RESPONSE:
We couldn't agree
more! Just wish we could write as eloquently as this Reader has!
The TWU and the
"721" are planning a media campaign soon. To do so takes a LOT of
C-A-S-H. Because the "721" is not yet collecting any Union Dues from
either the Dealers at Caesars Palace or The Wynn (no "optional" dues
until a contract is ratified by the members), they are relying heavily on
funds collected from the other Brothers and Sisters of the TWU nationwide (the
TWU International funds). Lots of "red tape" to aquire funds for
media campaigns. With the new "Gaming Division" established by the
TWU, much of the "red tape" should soon be cut, making the campaign
less financially strained. Funny, the corporations try to use the
"dues" as a reason why not to join a union, but it is because it's
the "dues" that help organize workers. No wonder corporations are so
set against union dues! LOL!
We do not know who
this Reader is, or even where they work, but hopefully they will contact the
TWU Local "721" ASAP to help get the ball rolling at their casino.
Keep in mind this, it took the Dealers at Caesars Palace almost six months
from the time they first met with the TWU Reps to the day of the Union
Election. Hopefully, with what has been learned from the Wynn and Caesars
Palace drives, things are getting a bit more streamlined, but...The time to
start is NOW! The clock is ticking!
I was wondering
why you frequently post "Remember the Venetian/Palazzo!" I can
understand remember the Wynn, but as a new employee at the Venetian, I do not
understand this comment. Yes, tokes went down as the Venetian has carried the
Palazzo. But the Sands corporation takes care of their people. With free
benefits, better 401k match then most, and better pay, I have heard no outcry
for union support or complaints about working there. It seems very irrational to
say that MGM and Harrah's properties will pool their tokes among all, because it
would be an accounting nightmare and make no sense. These slippery-slope,
worst-case illogical scenarios seem like irrational scare tactics to me. They
pooled tokes at Venetian/Palazzo because they run it as one integrated property.
When the Venetian first opened, I was told the tokes were poor and the casino
was poorly operated. Eventually, everything improved. Now, they doubled their
casino floor, but not their player database. Once the database catches up,
everything will be better.
RESPONSE:
Thank you for your feedback!
We know many Dealers at both the Venetian/Palazzo and are aware of the
reduction of the income of veteran Venetian Dealers and many who were hired
on also have either not improved their financial situation (as hoped) with
their new job, or even have taken a hit in their income as well.
We see that you marked that you are on the Floor, and your income has not
been affected with the opening of the Palazzo (if you work there). Tell us
though, how long could you sustain a near 50% drop in income? One month?
Two? Maybe three months? For most, one month would be enough to put them
into BK. Yes, things will hopefully get better, but until then, for those
Dealers who are not living on a dual income, they are hurting financially.
Hope is a very strong emotion, one of which many times goes unanswered.
We do realize the benefits provided the employees at the
Venetian/Palazzo, and they are very good. They are what every casino should
strive to achieve for their own employees. "Remember the
Venetian/Palazzo" can be construed as "look at their
benefits" just as it can be looked at as "look at what happens
with property pooling".
Yes we may be pointing out some very bad scenarios which
"could" happen in the future as the corporations seek to increase
their bottom line at any cost, but how many times has a Dealer said,
"What more can they do to us"? Many times it has been said, and
many times it has gotten worse, even when the Dealers thought it couldn't.
If Steve-O happens to prevail in his illegal/immoral seizing of the
Dealers tokes, we foresee many other casinos doing the same thing. They have
followed his lead many other times already. With that, how many times have
you worked in a casino where they have tried to call all of the employees a
"team", or maybe "a family"? So, as one big happy
"team/family", with the success (corporate) of
"tip-sharing" and "property-pooling", to make everyone
feel as though they all "belong", what would stop any corporation
from implementing BOTH policies, seizing ALL the tips from ALL non-union
employees to be redistributed EQUALLY amongst each one on each property, especially
if it will increase the "bottom line" resulting in "happy
shareholders"?
Accounting nightmare you say? Not really. X-amount of dollars dropped in
tokes split amongst x-amount of non-union employees wouldn't take that long
to figure out, especially in the age of computers. Maybe the first month or
so, but would that be any different than the problems encountered at the
Venetian/Palazzo which they "eventually improved" and the payroll
"database catches up"?
It may seem a bit far-fetched (so were female Dealers at one time), but
without any protection, it is definitely within the corporations ability to
do so. All we are doing is pointing out the possibilities, and without a
contract to ensure true fairness, anything is possible.
"What more can they do to us"? We can "wait and see",
or we can take action to protect our futures, as can the Floor.
We will go ahead and remove the "Remember the
Venetian/Palazzo" from our signature. Let's give them a few more months
and see what happens to their tokes.
I'm a dealer at Red
Rock casino and have experienced many unnecessary problems. Many dealers are
being harassed, nit picked, days off taken away harassed for FMLA, yelled at and
embarrassed and demoted to extra board. We need help ASAP! Lots of us are under
lots of stress and on the verge of losing our jobs! I myself, along with other
dealers, are interested in going union. Please help before it's too late!
RESPONSE:
As this Reader
writes, there are MORE reasons than just the threat of your tokes being seized
for redistribution to join the Union. What they are doing to the Dealers at
the Red Rock is a prime example of management "controlling" you all.
They are bullying all of you and picking favorites. This has got to stop now!
We would love to
help organize the Dealers at the Red Rock, and every Dealer in the Country for
that matter, but it is not up to us, it is up to you. Union Representatives
can NOT come on your property and organize you. They can not call you or write
to you without your contact information having been provided to them. They can
not help those who are not willing to help themselves. If you want the Union
in at the Red Rock, it is YOU who must do that. It is YOU who must contact the
Union Reps and get the ball rolling. The Union does not "just
appear". YOU are the Union. Your fellow Dealers are the Union. It is YOU
who must talk to all of your brothers and sisters, and it is they who must
send in their Authorization Cards to be able to petition the NLRB for a vote.
YOU are the Union!
Red Rock Dealers,
please contact the "721" ASAP so we can get the process started. If
you do not contact the "721", then nothing can be done for you. You
can call 476-0648 and ask to speak with a Union Rep and they
will help you. EVERYTHING WILL BE CONFIDENTIAL!
But until that call is made, you will have to continue to suffer the
consequences of your current management team and their actions.
After months of
legwork, the Tip Pooling/Taking Policy at WYNN LV
will go to hearing at the Labor Commissioner's Office on March 19 at 9am.
A complaint was filed
about six months ago stating the 'illegality' of the new tip pooling policy at
the Wynn.
The Labor
Commissioner accepted the complaint and forwarded it to the Wynn's attorneys.
They were 'generally denying the allegations and requesting that the
complaints be dismissed'.
The Labor
Commissioner did not dismiss the complaints and said 'The issues presented in
the claim present a significant public policy question that needs to be
resolved'.
We, the tip earners
of
Nevada
, should be happy to have these issues officially being heard in the proper
venue.
As the hearing gets
closer, updates will be sent out.
No matter where you
work in
Nevada
as a tip earner, this hearing concerns you. If WYNN
LV
can take the tips from an employee without permission or an agreement and give
them to other employees/managers, then any employer in the State of
Nevada
can do the same.
RESPONSE:
In a show of
SOLIDARITY, we think that EVERY DEALER in the State who is available should
ALL go to the Commissioner's Office at 8:30am and stand outside of the
Offices, on the street and in the parking lot, during the Hearing.
Post
#16 A Pro-Union Casino Management Member 2-9-08:
Congrats and it's
about time! I worked in HR for a LV based casino company and left their employ
right as AC was heating up. It was ironic that when my confidential comments
about "never crossing a picket line" were whispered and gossiped
about, my position was eliminated. Execs eating their own!
Many "Johnny Come Lately" casino executives are hard-line GOP/Fox
loving SOB's who look at money and power and not people, though they tell
everyone that it's a "people" business. Really?
I wish you all the luck in the world and am thrilled to death that this ball is
rolling. As in the case at Wynn, had Steve-o told his exec team that they had to
give 20K of their salaries to other members of the team there would have been
resumes flying out of Wynn so fast it would have looked like a virtual email
blizzard. Apparently with "front line" employees, well, that's a
different story, we're management and we will do as we please. Be glad you have
a job.
As someone who witnessed first hand the dirty tactics and "Union
Avoidance" training that members of management were forced to sit through,
and "talked to" if they questioned or offered a different view, please
do your best to educate your members and potential members of what management is
doing "against" them. All that talk of "communicating directly
with employees" is their mantra. Managers are told they will no longer be
able to say anything to their employees, not even "hello" without
"getting in trouble". They are told that scheduling will be a "nightmare".
(it's easier, actually, when you schedule by seniority, I think) Supervisors are
told that the Union will "grieve everything" and "most" of
their time will "taken up battling the union".
The managers are just as uniformed and scared because they've been forced to
drink the Kool-Aid of the slick union busters-for hire and HR Sr. Executives
who've made it their life's work and resume to avoid and "battle"
unions.
These folks are good people, many of whom truly care about their employees and
are afraid. Others bully and badger their way around and need a union to keep
them in check and level the tiled playing field. Overall, they are brainwashed
and attempting to do same to the employees.
Having sat in too many of these "strategy meetings" I can tell you
that they are truly scared to death of how much power employees have if they
only harness and focus it. Keep the faith!
RESPONSE:
That post our
friends, is from the "horse's mouth".
When the Reader
writes, "
As for our
immediate Supervisors (Floor), they too would be WISE to organize. Many say
they can not because they are "management". WRONG! Just because
someone wears a suit, that does NOT make them "management". Does the
Floor "set policy"? Nope. Can they "hire and/or fire"?
Nope. Are they involved in "operational decisions"? Nope.
Yes, this Reader
knows that when the Dealers organize, we will have the P-O-W-E-R. That our
friends is what scares the shit out of them! No more "control" over
you and your lives.
Mandalay Bay
Dealer Here. Hi Rumplestiltskin, Congratulations on you wonderful and
informative site.
I keep hearing
from dealers they want to "wait and see" what happens with Caesars
Dealers. Well there it is, great blow out! I hope these dealers wake up and
realize that we have no protection and the management on these properties can do
what ever they want with us.
Steve Wynn saved
over $1 million skimming off the top of the dealers tokes, and many know that
MGM/Mirage is going to follow suit. If Steve Wynn wins his case in Supreme court
we will be screwed, MGM/Mirage having all the properties they have will follow
suit. So we need these dealers to wake up and smell the roses. Of course they
are not going to forewarn us, so at that point it will be to late.
So, congrats on
your dealers, at least they took the first step and a SMART
one...PROTECTION!!!
ALL FOR ONE AND
ONE FOR ALL!!!
RESPONSE:
Thanks for the
"kudos" on the website. It has taken many months to get this site
where it is today, and it will continue to transform as the "721"
grows.
We posted the
Mandalay Bay Feedback here because the page linking their casino is now just a
link to their own Dealer's website. There is no Feedback on their page on this
site. So, all Mandalay Feedbacks we get will be posted here.
It is unfortunate
that ANY Dealer takes the "wait and see" approach to the organizing
efforts going on in this country. We don't really understand that mentality.
Why would anyone want to "wait and see" if their income is going to
be taken away from them when they have an option to prevent it?
Voting the Union in
does NOT obligate you in any way to join the Union. But what it does is
"lock in" what you have the day the election is certified. One may
say, "Why do I want to lock in the terrible benefits I have now?"
Well, because it will only get worse if you don't. How many times/years has it
gotten better? Honestly? If you lock in what you have, you will stop the
bleeding away of your benefits. You will also make it impossible for
management to follow the path Steve-O has taken his Dealers down. Once the
Union is voted in they can NOT make any changes in your working conditions,
including the seizing of your tokes for redistribution, without YOUR approval.
That is Federal Law, not State Law. But, they will NOT tell you that in any
meetings they force you to go to, or in any written propaganda they provide
you with.
What the Dealers at
Caesars Palace did can be viewed as a "preemptive strike". Every
Dealer in this town can do the same thing. Do NOT "wait and see"
what kind of contract the Dealers at CP get, because if/when your casino
seizes your tokes you will NOT get the same contract as the CP Dealers get.
They have saved their tokes BEFORE they were seized.
Your management
will tell all of you, "From what we hear, nothing is happening at The
Wynn in their negotiations." Not true. If anyone had been at the TWU
meeting on the 30th they would have found that out. One thing is clear about
the Wynn negotiations, NEITHER side is willing to give up the tokes. Until the
courts rule on the legality of what Steve-O has done, there will be no
contract at The Wynn. Steve-O has the tokes, why would he give them back? The
Dealers want all of their hard earned tokes back, why would they settle for
less if they don't have to?
Again, voting the
Union in does NOT mean you have to join. The smart decision is to vote the
Union in WHILE you are watching what CP Dealers get accomplished. Know this,
once the TWU petitions the NLRB for a vote on the Union, the casino can take
up to 44 days to actually have the election. It is NOT like you get the cards
in tomorrow and have the vote the next day. It is a process. Get the process
started NOW, or possibly lose your tokes before you do. "Preemptive
strike"! Be smart!
One other thing, as
you see below after each response to the Feedbacks, we say, "Remember the
Venetian/Palazzo". Do you know why? Because when the Palazzo opened up
BOTH casinos FORCED their Dealers to POOL TOGETHER. As a result, the money
they were making at the Venetian BEFORE the opening of the Palazzo has been
cut nearly in half. That's a FACT. Put together what they did at the
Venetian/Palazzo with what Steve-O has done, and Dealers tokes can be seized
and split with anyone and everyone within the corporation. The company says,
"We are all one big family" when they do it. At the same time they
save MILLIONS in payroll while the Dealers bear the brunt of it all. Is this
what you want? To have a toke pool of employees of say 5000+ plus? Not only
will your income be reduced by 50%+, but there will NEVER be another
"score".
Want to "wait
and see"? Fine, but do it as you are voting the Union in. If things do
not work out with the Union or with contracts, then decertify the Union and go
back to the way it is now..."at-will" employees.
