Reno Hilton ordered to hire back fired security guards

Tuesday, Oct. 20, 1998 | 9:55 a.m.

In a Sept. 30 ruling, the National Labor Relations Board also said the Hilton must pay lost wages.

The total cost is unknown, as only workers who have not found new jobs are entitled to full back pay, NLRB attorney Rony Clements said. Others would receive the difference between their Hilton wages and present pay.

A Hilton lawyer said the company will appeal the ruling in federal court.

The Hilton received the ruling on Monday.

"I think the decision is grossly erroneous and will be reversed," said Joe Herman, a Los Angeles attorney for Hilton hotels. "The company acted completely lawfully."

The NLRB ruling against the Hilton was in response to the company's appeal of an earlier decision that favored the fired workers.

The guards signed a union contract with the Hilton shortly after a nine-day strike in 1996.

In the contract, the guards gave up job security in exchange for a pledge from Hilton not to cut wages.

Hilton fired the guards in January 1997 and subcontracted with a private firm to provide security services at northern Nevada's largest hotel-casino.