September 29,
2007
The response
in support of the
Committee to Prevent Employers from Seizing Tips (PEST)
has been overwhelming and has prompted us to move on
without delay with a full fledged campaign publicly
promoting PEST awareness with as much advertising and
media coverage possible. We cannot shoulder the cost of
such a campaign ourselves and are asking for help with
voluntary donations. Please understand how important
this issue is and donate whatever you can. If many
donate a little, it takes the burden off the few, and
helps us accomplish our common goal.
Please don’t
make the mistake of thinking this problem is exclusive
to Wynn Las Vegas casino dealers. Mr. Wynn’s tip policy
will undoubtedly affect all tip earners no matter what
your service industry tip earning profession may be, not
only here in Nevada but throughout the country if not
stopped.
PEST
completely acknowledges and supports the ongoing union
negotiations and legal actions in progress and will be
working toward the same goal of preventing employers
from seizing tips with no interference with other
projects in progress.
We believe we
must pursue all avenues to stop the tip confiscation.
Our main focus, besides voter registration and
soliciting political support on a nonpartisan level,
will be to create a
petition initiative that will bring the tip
issue directly to the people for a vote, by-passing the
powerful and deep pocketed political special interest
groups who were so evident during the last legislative
session. It was they who thwarted our efforts to
convince our lawmakers to apply reason and fairness to
the issue of tip confiscation initiated at the Wynn
casino. As Liz Benston said in her Las Vegas Sun
article, “Some think
the petition could be the dealers’ last — but best —
trump card in their fight to roll back the policy, which
has become national news and a battle of wills between
the rank and file and their forward-thinking but
volatile boss.” It doesn’t matter which
pursuit succeeds; the point is that every possibility
must be tried.
The wording of
the petition initiative we will be circulating is
presently being scrutinized and analyzed by experts to
be certain there are no loopholes. The petition will be
released to the public as soon as it is perfected. If we
get the support from Nevada citizens that we expect,
this petition will overwhelm the special interest groups
who favor tip confiscation, and will establish new law
which will protect employees’ tips from all predators.
If anyone
would like another bumper sticker please don’t hesitate
to contact us, we would like to see one on every car in
the city.
Please send donations to:
