IN RESPONSE TO THE MATTER OF INDEPENDENCE:

  I don't understand how this guy can call having only 4 or 5 major corporations owning most of the better jobs  independent.  Obviously, he has never been fired from Hilton or Mirage resorts and tried to get another job at one of their other casinos.  It is my opinion, that if you are fired from one of the large corporations owning most of the casinos in town you are on your way downtown to the much smaller casinos where you will be making much much less money.  This person should get the facts before making a statement like he has - not only do the major corporations own most of the major casinos in Las Vegas - they own them throughout this country and others.

  That is only one more reason that we need a union - there are less and less places to go to get a good job in this town.  If you are fired from Hilton just try going to another one of their properties and getting a job - good luck.  Since the casino business has not been faced with unionization at this level before - we are not really aware of what is involved in starting a unionization effort.  Just look at the coal miners or the automotive industry - they had to fight hard and stand together and yes sometimes friends were on different sides - but this is just a fact of unionizing.

  This is going to happen and it is part of the process.  I find that most of the dealers who are siding with management have "favored dealer" status - it is so obvious that I cannot believe some people are fooled by this.  When dealers are allowed to go onto properties and distribute anti-union literature in the name of  "another dealer helping another" I find it quite disturbing when their issues (when investigated) are nothing more than union busting tactics.  I was not surprised when this happened at Bally's from two Paris dealers - the Paris dealers were allowed to come on the premises and distribute this material - you just try taking the day off or calling in sick to distribute materials at another Park Place property - you will either be immediately rejected from the property or fired.

  This did not happen to these dealers - why? because management has a part in it - consider the source from where these flyers are coming from - these are not just any dealers - one in particular was at one time "Dealer of the Year" at Bally's and has enjoyed all the perks that went along with it until she transferred to Paris.  The allegations that these people have expressed about the TWU are unfounded.  When I have asked these questions of  TWU representatives I have always been told the answer - and it is my opinion that these dealers were also - but somehow they were either turned or were "moles" all along.  If you want to respond to what I have just mentioned go ahead - you are entitled to your own opinion and I am entitled to mine - this is just the beginning - there will be many many discussions like this on the road to unionization.

  The dealers at Bally's are now being offered "flex time" they bring you into a meeting and try to fire you up with this "benefit" - all they are doing is putting some small carrot in front of the dealers and trying to make it "sound" as if it is great - just do a little investigating into this "flex time" - the dealers at the MGM have it and they are still wanting to unionize - the casino is not really "giving" us anything additional - if they really wanted to do something for us they would do the right thing and recognize us just like they do the cocktail waitresses and bartenders but they will not because they are represented by a bargaining unit and we are not - we are at their mercy.  When a dealer asked in the meeting the other day about what type of guarantee we would have of continuing to receive these new benefits they are giving us - there was no real answer - why? because they know that if the union does not make it this time - they will have us just where they want us - divided and totally in their control.

  When are they ever going to realize that the monies go directly from the customers to the dealers and into the drop box - NOT through the hands of the cocktail waitresses / bartenders.  What happens when management changes and the bottom line falls - are they still going to want to give us anything?  We are always the first to get our benefits taken away.  I am happy for the supervisors and boxpersons that got raises and bonuses - which in my opinion is only because of the threat of unionization of them also - by giving them bonuses they are now officially considered management and therefore cannot unionize but next year their bonuses will be at the discretion of management and will be on a merit system - you know what that means don't you - if they like you, you get a bonus - if you are not favored by the management in power at the time you don't - once again the same ole same ole.

  Just please remember that the next time management offers you something take a few minutes to really digest what it is they are giving you - examine the details before getting excited and feeling they are "coming around" to our side - that will never happen.  They can keep their new cafeterias and dealers room - why not just do the right thing by the dealers.  I feel that unless the union comes in I do not want to be a part of this industry any longer - not that management would care but I will not allow myself to be "owned" without representation.  Although we are not "at war" with the casinos - it sometimes appears that way.  During many unionization efforts brothers and sisters were divided - this has gone on all throughout our democracy - so I am not surprised that it is happening now at this time in Las Vegas.  We will never all agree on this issue but we should be able to conduct this unionization effort on a fair playing field and I do not believe that management allowing such actions as I have seen at Bally's from Paris dealers fair.

(Back to Index)

International Union of Gaming Employees  •  Copyright © 2000  •  All rights reserved