Union protest ruling due next week

Thursday, April 22, 1999 | 11:34 a.m.

Pro heard oral arguments on the issue Wednesday. Venetian attorneys argued that the resort should be allowed to ban picketers from the sidewalks, which the Venetian privately owns. But attorneys for the Culinary Union argued that past case law says sidewalks are open to any expressive activity by members of the public regardless of who owns the actual sidewalk.

Pro gave no indication how he would rule. He also delayed deliberating whether to allow American Civil Liberties Union attorneys to intervene in the case. Pro said a ruling on that matter would have to wait until the other parties had time to file briefs in answer to the ACLU's intervention request.

The Venetian and Culinary Union are at odds over Venetian owner Sheldon Adelson's refusal to allow a card check/neutrality union organization process at the resort. Adelson favors a National Labor Relations Board-supervised election, a process the union criticizes as open to endless delay.

The Venetian sued the Union, Clark County and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department after police refused to arrest union demonstrators in early March. The Union promises to put relentless pressure on the Venetian after it opens on May 3.