Officials silent on strike talks

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

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First published on June 8, 1993

Lynn Waddell

LAS VEGAS SUN

Frontier Hotel management and union officials have had their first session with a governor-appointed fact finder, but it's not known how it went.

Those involved in the talks Monday agreed to the negotiator's request not to discuss the ongoing sessions with the media.

The meeting-was the longest between union officials and management since before the strike began in September 1991. It began in a Stardust Hotel suite about 10 a.m. and didn't end until about 5 p.m.

More sessions are scheduled throughout the week.

Gov. Bob Miller appointed Sam Kagel, a professional negotiator from San Francisco, to help settle the bitter labor dispute that began 20 months ago. Both sides have agreed to cooperate in the fact-finding process.

Kagel is a veteran strike negotiator who has mediated labor disputes involving the National Football League and San Francisco newspapers.

In a 1982 interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, he described his negotiation tactics: "I don't play footsie with either side. I try to find what each side wants - not what they think they want or what they say they want, but what they really want and need."

Hotel officials have indicated they will not follow whatever recommendations Kagel makes. Union officials said they would agree to binding arbitration if management would do the same

Union officials and Frontier General Manager Tom Elardi met briefly with Gov. Miller last summer in an attempt to settle the strike, but negotiations broke down over the union's health and welfare benefits.

Elardi has questioned the administration of those benefits and has asked for confidential information about the insurance plan. Culinary officials, which represent a majority of the more than 600 strikers, say they have given Elardi all the information he needs.