Letter carriers join union strikers at Frontier Hotel

Bob Shemeligian

Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998 | 11:15 a.m.

Six hundred union letter carriers are in town to hand deliver a message to the owners of the embattled Frontier Hotel: It's time to negotiate a settlement to the 13-month-old strike.

"This is absolutely outrageous," said Vincent R. Sombrotto, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers. "The owners of the hotel have created a situation where people are out of work for 13 months."

But Sombrotto and many of the hundreds of other letter carriers who joined Culinary and Bartenders unions members on the picket line Tuesday said the strike movement at the Frontier is getting stronger every day.

"We didn't draw the line, these people did," Sombrotto said. "If they think they're going to drive people into poverty, that's not going to happen in this society."

Other letter carriers echoed Sombrotto's comments.

"This just isn't right," said carrier Dave Erickson of Great Falls, Mont. "We all want to support the strikers here. We're proud to be here. I hope they shut this place down."

Sandra Gastelo, who delivers mail in Burbank, Calif., said she and other carriers are surprised that the owners of the hotel have chosen to hold out.

"But it doesn't matter how long they hold out," she said.

As she spoke, a Culinary worker yelled, "Scab," to the driver of a rental car pulling into the Frontier parking lot.

The letter carriers are in Las Vegas to attend a conference on health benefits at the Mirage Joining them Tuesday on the picket line were members of Las Vegas Local 2502.

"We've been union for a long time, over 100 years," said Sherie Emmons, a member of the local branch Frontier strikers said they appreciate the support from the letter carriers.

"What we have here is a little solidarity," said Hattie Canty, president of Culinary Local 226. "We appreciate the support of our brothers and sisters. This is a union town, and we must remain union."

Canty said the strikers are stronger today than they were 13 months ago when the strike began.

"She (Frontier owner Margaret Elardi) awakened a sleeping giant. We are not going anywhere," Canty said.

Maurice Bouchard, a room service worker and Culinary member, said the owners of the Frontier have three choices: Sign a fair contract, sell the casino or shut down.

"We're not going to go away. If anyone thinks so, he's crazy," Bouchard said.