Frontier mulls union proposal

Lynn Waddell

Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998 | 11:31 a.m.

Tense discussions today did not result in a new union contract at the Frontier, but talks have been suspended until management reviews the union's contract proposals.

Frontier officials didn't specify how long it would take them to respond to the union's proposals.

Frontier Hotel & Gambling Hall management and union leaders sat down for the first time in two years Wednesday to discuss negotiating a contract and ending a bitter nine-month strike.

Today's talks, held at the El Rancho hotel-' casino, were marked by emotional outbursts from union officials.

Union negotiator John Wilhelm, angry about the Frontier's Wednesday proposal, raised his voice and called Frontier negotiator Joel Keiler "unprofessional and sleazy."

After reviewing the hotel's contract offer Wednesday night, union officials said the contract wasn't any more acceptable than the last one they refused before the strike began.

"It looks even worse than the last proposal," said Jim Arnold, Culinary Union secretarytreasurer. "It still eliminates the pension plan and health and welfare benefits."

The union's counter-proposal today included those benefits.

Although nothing has been resolved, both sides said just talking was a positive step.

"Anytime we are talking it's good," said Arnold said. "That's what negotiations are all about.

It's pretty positive because they've finally put something on the table," said Tom Elardi, Frontier general manager.

"Right now we are still a long way apart," Arnold said. "We should have sat right there tonight no matter how long it took."

Despite tensions and much unresolved banter, both groups agreed to keep negotiations going.

Wilhelm said the 550 workers are willing to accept some changes to their original proposal.

"We've said 'sign, sell or close,' meaning sign a contract. We've never said what the contract has to be," Wilhelm said. "But don't expect us to roll over and say 'Fine, we'll sign whatever you want because you're the Frontier."'

Elardi said the talks were still the most significant step toward ending the strike since it began in September.

"I certainly think we should try to maintain an optimistic view," Elardi said. "I think the union members are really fine people and are going through a trying time like we all are. We're all handling it the best we can."

The Elardi family bought the Strip hotel in 1989 and union contracts already existed. When the contracts expired later that year, management and unions couldn't agree on a new one. Management proposed ceasing contributions to the workers pension fund and replacing the union health insurance plan with another.

Keiler, negotiating lawyer for the Frontier, refused to discuss why the hotel took its earlier position to cut the benefits.

"You waited too long to ask why," Keiler told union negotiators Wednesday. "You are not going to find out today after we haven't heard from you in two years."

But Elardi did tell negotiators that he wanted more information about the union health plan.

It's very difficult to negotiate with you when you don't supply us with information," Elardi said. "If the money comes out of our pocket, we want to know what we are buying."

The general manager added that he thinks the plan he proposed for workers is better than the union health plan. John Wilhelm, chief negotiator for the Culinary union, was quick to disagree.

"Our plan is certainly better by light years than the plan you proposed," Wilhelm said.