Frontier Hotel talks hit snag

Lynn Waddell

Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998 | 11:30 a.m.

Striking Frontier Hotel workers said the governor's presence was helpful in contract talks, but they are still far from signing a contract.

Gov. Bob Miller attended negotiations Wednesday between Frontier management and union workers to "facilitate dialogue." However, negotiations are stalled again while management waits for more information to compare the union's health insurance with other plans.

"We were the only ones to put something meaningful on the table," said Tom Elardi, Frontier general manager. "Insurance is our biggest stumbling block."

It will be at least four weeks before the health plan documents are available and another negotiating session can be held, said Joel Keiler, management negotiator.

About 550 workers began picketing the Strip hotel in September after their contract had expired. Union workers are insisting on a contract comparable to those with other Strip resorts. Elardi maintained his stance not to sign a similar contract.

"I'm still not willing to sign a Strip contract," Elardi said after the meet ing.

Labor and management each claimed to be only ones willing to negotiate during the closed-door session. Miller said he couldn't take sides and refused to give his opinion.

"I only intend to be here to get both sides talking," Miller said. "I have no intention of deciding which is more reasonable."'

Union members called Elardi's request for more health benefit information an intentional delay. The hotel wasn't willing to negotiate any more than it was during the meetings in June, labor officials said.

"It's just a stall tactic," said Jim Arnold, Culinary Union secretary-treasurer. "They wait until the meeting to request anything and refuse to negotiate until they get it."

Elardi requested signed and dated copies of documents the union insisted it has already given him.

The union health plan has been revised three times and management needs the revisions to compare it with other health plans, Elardi said.

"The union has cut health benefits three times since 1989," he said. "How can we price something without that information?"

Instead, Elardi said, management was the only one willing to negotiate in Wednesday's meeting, since it agreed to consider - the union health plan.

David Burns, a striking Frontier bartender, said other differences still need to be resolved.