Brief: Union ballots contested at Star Trek: The Experience

Tuesday, Dec. 15, 1998 | 12:19 p.m.

Teamsters Local 995 petitioned for an election to represent the employees. An election Monday resulted in a 46-35 tally in favor of the Teamsters, but 15 ballots have been challenged and a National Labor Relations Board investigation will decide the validity of those votes.

The Teamsters contested seven of the ballots, alleging the people that cast them should have been considered supervisors. Management of Paramount Parks, operator of Star Trek: The Experience, challenged three ballots, questioning whether those workers had a "community of interest" sufficient to vote along with the other employees. The NLRB questioned five ballots as to whether the voters were on an eligibility list compiled before such elections.

The Star Trek attraction is located inside the Las Vegas Hilton. The employees fell under the Teamsters jurisdiction after management classified them as ride operators rather than actors, said Teamsters organizer Rob Rovere.

"We're confident this won't change the outcome of the election," Rovere said.

David Mandt, director of public relations and marketing for Star Trek: The Experience, declined comment until the election is settled.

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