Culinary plans 2 rallies

Lynn Waddell

Friday, Jan. 30, 1998 | 10:36 a.m.

The Culinary Union is continuing to flex its muscles during contract negotiations by planning two rallies Saturday outside resorts that refuse to negotiate.

The union plans to rally outside the Frontier and Sheraton Desert Inn hotel-casinos. The rallies are set for 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. respectively.

"We really think that's where the future of our union lies," said D. Taylor, union organizer. "They represent both ends of the spectrum: the smaller, privately owned property and the big corporate owner. We're calling it the corridor of hell."

The resorts face each other on the Strip. Union members have been picketing the Frontier for more than two years because the owners refused to negotiate a new union contract.

The union is upset with Sheraton not for its treatment of Desert Inn employees, but the company's unwillingness to guarantee union recognition at its planned Desert Kingdom resort.

Sheraton officials refused to comment on the ongoing negotiations.

The union has recently been negotiating its contract with the Desert Inn and has asked Sheraton to include language that automatically makes any new Strip properties also union.

Taylor said Sheraton is refusing to discuss the unionization of its new resort, to be developed by the end of next year.

"They told us they aren't going to talk about it," Taylor said. "The workers at the Desert Inn want the ability to transfer when the new property opens. All they have to do is agree to union-again language.

"It's very clear what they want to do is fight the union."