Jeff German: Sands shaping up as new Culinary battleground on the Strip

Thursday, June 20, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

THE WORST FEARS of Culinary Union leaders are coming true at the Sands hotel-casino.

A new labor battleground is surfacing.

Owner Sheldon Adelson -- who's demolishing the Sands so he can build a 6,000-room mega-resort complex in its place -- is sending out signals he may not open his new property under the union's banner.

In an era where other mega-resorts have recognized the value of working closely with the union, some say that could be a colossal business mistake.

"It looks like he's taking the same road that Bob Maxey did at the MGM Grand," says Culinary Union boss Jim Arnold. "We've seen the shape the MGM was put in when all it was concerned about was fighting the union."

The MGM warmed up to the Culinary after top man Maxey retired last year. It has since achieved record profits under new chief Terry Lanni.

Adelson, meanwhile, has infuriated his employees and union leaders with his less-than-impressive severance package for the hundreds losing their jobs next month.

The worst part of the deal is Adelson's refusal to commit to re-hiring his people at the new and improved Sands a couple of years down the road. It's got union leaders digging in for a donnybrook.

"If he wants to fight with his employees, so be it," Arnold says. "The fight's going to start now, and we're not going to wait until it opens like we did at the MGM."

The 5,000-room MGM opened to a massive Culinary demonstration that attracted worldwide headlines.

"This is a real commentary on how (Adelson) views his work force and how he views the community," says Culinary Staff Director D. Taylor. "I think it represents everything that's wrong with corporate America."

Sands executives insist the severance package is equitable and has been "universally greeted with appreciation" by employees.

And contrary to union assertions, the officials say, the package isn't giving workers the "heave-ho."

But Taylor suggests Adelson should learn the proper way of treating employees from the likes of Mirage Resorts Chairman Steve Wynn and top Circus Circus Enterprises executives, who've become successful on the Strip by maintaining good relations with the union.

"Who would expect a casino operator in this day and age not to give preferential hiring and recall rights to employees who have made his place so successful?" Taylor gripes.

Some county commissioners apparently agree.

Chairwoman Yvonne Atkinson Gates has vowed to personally convey her concerns to Adelson.

And Commissioner Paul Christensen wants his colleagues to issue a resolution urging other Strip resorts to help relocate Sands workers.

Though the County Commission (like the Culinary) has no authority to tell Adelson how to treat his employees, it will play a role in helping him get his $1.5 billion project on line.

Putting himself in the doghouse with the county and the union doesn't appear to be a smart business move on Adelson's part.

* Ex-Metro Sgt. James Campbell is breathing easier today amid a decision by District Judge Lee Gates to order a new trial for him and two other officers convicted of roughing up a petty thief.

"I'm not happy about fighting it all over again, but it sure beats being a convicted felon," Campbell says. "I still believe in our legal system."

Campbell says he ready for another legal battle and promises a new strategy this time.

He says Andy Anderson, president of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, has told him the union will come up with "whatever it takes" to defend the three fired cops.

The PPA already has shelled out $250,000 in legal fees for Campbell and former Officers Robert Phelan and Brian Nicholson.

The three were convicted last month by a jury of roughing up Andrew Dersch at the Fremont hotel-casino. Part of the incident was captured on Fremont surveillance cameras.

As talks aimed at reaching a plea agreement with the cops stalled last week, the case has led to a rift between District Attorney Stewart Bell and the police union.

Bell insists he's prepared for another trial.

But some suggest the DA might be more inclined to avoid another costly courtroom drama now that he no longer has felony convictions to back up his position. Stay tuned.