Labor Day was no holiday for these laborers

Bob Shemeligian

Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

While bureaucrats, bankers and most other white-collar workers fired up the backyard grill or relaxed around the house, thousands of local residents celebrated Labor Day on the job.

"We're celebrating Labor Day by laboring," said Bill Caponigri, 38, floor supervisor in the dice pit at the Stardust hotel-casino. "This place is wall-to-wall people today. We got people working 10-hour shifts today. I'm lucky. I'm working only nine hours."

At the Stardust's front desk, bell captain Tom McEwen said his crew had a very busy day Monday.

"We were at 100 percent all weekend," the 59-year-old McEwen said. "I think all the hotels were filled. We had a very busy day. There were more than 1,130 checkouts and we took care of all our guests."

Tourism officials estimated the weekend drew 188,000 visitors.

At hotels throughout Las Vegas, when rooms are checked out, room service is called.

"We were very busy on Monday. In fact we're always busy," said Samantha Murrey, 39-year-old floor supervisor in housekeeping at a major Strip hotel.

"The rooms check in. The rooms check out. Some people don't like the view, or they ask for a king rather than two doubles, so they change rooms, and that's more work for us. Then we have to clean the rooms. We went through a lot of linen this weekend."

Card dealers also were on duty in droves.

"It was very busy," said Gail McNerney, a 21 dealer at The Mirage. "I like it busy. Time goes by fast."

McNerney, 44, who has worked for The Mirage since the hotel opened in 1989, said she loves her job.

"Believe it or not, even after all those years I've been dealing, I still find it exciting when there are big crowds like the one we had this weekend. Of course, there's a lot more work trying to teach people to play blackjack and trying to keep the game flowing, but I enjoy it."

"How did I spend my holiday, you ask? I spent it working in a very busy poker room," said Linda Wilson, relief shift supervisor at Treasure Island.

Wilson said she doesn't mind working holidays.

"I like meeting all different kinds of people, and they seem to let loose a lot more in a casino atmosphere," Wilson said.

It also was business as usual Monday for the people who launder casino uniforms.

"The front door was locked, but we were inside working because we do hotel uniforms, which have to be cleaned and returned at the end of the holiday weekend, because the casinos are open for business every day," said Bobbie Williams, co-manager of Westgate Cleaners on West Charleston Boulevard.

Westgate launders food service, bar and security uniforms for several major hotels.

Labor Day was a particularly good day for taxicab drivers because the traffic was light.

"It was definitely easier to get around," said P.K. Fredericks, a driver for Checker Cab and political editor of Trip Sheet, a taxicab trade magazine.

"Everybody loves Las Vegas, and for the tourists Monday was a day of fun, but for cab drivers and columnists, it was day of work," Fredericks said.

Kathy Walker, senior operator in dispatch at Yellow, Checker and Star Cab Cos., had the dubious honor of working during a holiday and on her birthday.

"I'm having a splendid day because I work with a marvelous bunch of people," said Walker, who turned 50 on Monday. "I did receive some flowers and some delicious peach cobbler."