Building Trades join Station fight with Culinary union

Tuesday, March 20, 2012 | 11:54 a.m.

For awhile, it seemed as if the Culinary union was an island in its campaign against the community-connected Station Casinos and the Fertitta clan.

No more. The Southern Nevada Building and Trades Council has issued a strong directive to boycott Station Casinos, telling folks to "do the right thing" and patronize non-Station properties.

Here are the actual talking points

UPDATE: The union, which is hosting AFL-CIO boss Rich Trumka on Thursday, also is having a big rally at the Red Rock Resort at 6 PM. The flyer, which is attached at right, has the usual talking points plus the offer of a free hat and souvenir button (!) to the first 200 workers to sign in.

UPDATE NO. 2 -- Station Casino folks believe the Culinary chose Thursday because it is the major Gorman High School fundraiser that night at Red Rock. The Knight of the Gael attracts hundreds of attendees, including many of the city's social elite. The Fertittas are major donors to the school and helped build the magnificent Gorman complex in southeast Las Vegas. The president of the school and the head of the union exchanged pleasantries Monday, which I have posted at right. Two ways to look at it: Would the Culinary want to have a big show to make it uncomfortable for the Knight of the Gael attendees and show a broader audience they are serious about unionizing Station? Maybe. But won't it also detract from the union's message if it seems the workers are interrupting an event for a school? Yes, indeed. (The union also wrote a letter to the bishop, insisting the demonstration is not meant as an insult to the diocese or Gorman.)