By Rolando Larraz
               Las Vegas Tribune

In a strange turn of events, the culinary union—which usually pickets others— has been picketed by another union.

Last Monday leaders and members of the International Union of Gaming Employees were picketing the head-quarters of the Culinary Union Local 226 for taking sides with the arbitrary rule created by Wynn Resorts Chairman, Steve Wynn, of sharing the dealers’ tips with the supervisors of the table games.

Historically, the dealers and other employees and members of the Culinary Union got to keep the gratuity that guests and patrons would leave for those who rendered a service in the gaming and hotel industry.

For months the IUGE has been fighting Steve Wynn’s rule of taking the dealers’ tips and splitting them with the table’s supervisors; and now, as previously reported by the Las Vegas Tribune, the issue is in front of the Supreme Court where Wynn objected to the union’s petition.

Among these who sided with the powerful Steve Wynn was the Culinary Union Local 226, comprised entirely of members that are tip-earners.

“It is very ironic that this union... that all its members are tip-earners... takes sides with the man that is taking the bread off their table,” said an IUGE member while picketing. “Today Wynn is doing it to us, and tomorrow they will do it to the members of the culinary,” he added.

Immediately after the dealers’ union started the demonstration, the administration of the culinary union started assembling their own culinary employees with red T-shirts and black pants to counteract the embarrassment of one union picketing another union instead of supporting each other.

The majority of all those assembled by Local 226 were Hispanics that speak little or no English, and the Las Vegas Tribune was told that they all were paid for being there.

D. Taylor, the Secretary-Treasurer and the self-proclaimed leader of the Culinary Union Local 226, was not at the picket line and did not address the issue to his members or gave an explanation for his actions to the leaders of the IUGE, who were all there in the front line picketing hand-in-hand with its members.

Last month some of the leaders of IUGE visited the Las Vegas Tribune  office   to   talk   about   the

Tony Badillo, President of the International Union of Gaming Employees was on the front line protesting the actions of leaders of the Culinary Union.

situation  of   the   dealers   and  the future of all tip-earners in Las Vegas and the consequences that it may have for all culinary members in the nation.

They also talked about the creation of PEST (Prevent Employers from Seizing Tips) to protect these who depend on tips to earn a living.

During that visit to the Las Vegas Tribune office, Tony Badillo, President of the International Union of Gaming Employees, told the newspaper that “Taylor ignores the fact that a great percent of its members are tip-earners and are in the position of losing that benefit if Wynn gets his way, and purposely avoids asking the members for their opinion.”

“Many of these associations that have joined forces with Steve Wynn’s have done so without the knowledge or approval of their own tip-earning employees or members,” Jack Lipsman told the Las Vegas Tribune during that last month’s visit to the newspaper.

During the Monday demonstration in front of the Culinary Union Local 226, there was a verbal confrontation between the two union members, but nothing transpired more than the exchange of words.

One man, who appeared to be Hispanic and pretended to be in charge of those dressed in black pants and red T-Shirts, refused to identify himself yet kept taking pictures or video footage of this reporter for unknown purposes: maybe to intimidate me or interfere with the freedom of the press.

The man refused to take the Las Vegas Tribune business card that identified the reporter, and appeared to be shocked that the reporter was not intimidated or scared of the person who was not able to identify himself, choosing instead to hide behind a security guard and the gates of the Culinary Union Local 226.                          [up]