Refinanced pickets thrive

Bob Shemeligian

Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998 | 12:02 p.m.

First published March 19, 1992.

Rearmed with an $8 million pledge from their international union, striking culinary workers are picking up their strides as their battle with the Frontier Hotel nears the half-year mark.

"We're here for as long as it takes," union organizer Willie Myles said Wednesday. "They're either going to settle or shut down."

Striking workers said that with or without the millions pledged by the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union to maintain the strike, they will continue to the end.

"There's nothing I'd rather do than walk this line," bartender Barry Siegel said. "We're not going anywhere, whether it takes six months, a year or two years."

As they marched past the paper and debris that litters the front landscaping of the Frontier, the strikers were watched by General Manager Tom Elardi and several security guards, who videotaped the protest.

"It's always the same story: sign or shut down, and I don't believe that's the definition of negotiation," Elardi said.

Elardi was asked if the situation is any closer to a settlement today than it was six months ago, and whether there has been any talk of hiring an outside arbitrator.

Elardi shook his head no in reply to both questions.

As he spoke, striking workers continued their verbal assault on anyone who crossed the picket line.

"Scabs and scumbags," shouted Culinary Union members at a few visitors daring to cross the picket line.

A young woman in shorts and sandals who emerged from the front entrance of the Frontier suffered a severe tonguelashing from a young man carrying a picket sign.

"Can you believe he said that to me?" she asked. "I'm fixin' to go to the police."

She did exactly that, and two Metro Police officers warned the striker to be more polite.

Inside the hotel, players continued to throw dice and pull slot handles, but business was not brisk.

"We're doing OK on days, but they're not doing as well on swing," one dealer said. "They're more afraid to cross the picket line at night."