Sidewalk showdown set

Tuesday, Feb. 23, 1999 | 11:06 a.m.

The Culinary Union and Sheldon Adelson are headed for a public showdown Monday on the Strip in their escalating labor battle over the Venetian megaresort.

As many as 2,000 union members, led by Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., a former civil-rights activist, are planning a demonstration at 5:30 p.m. Monday on the sidewalks of the Venetian to call attention to the dispute.

The massive demonstration is considered the opening salvo in the union's stepped-up campaign against the $1.2 million Venetian as it prepares to open its doors without a union contract April 21.

Union leaders plan to test Adelson's resolve to ban them from the sidewalks during the rally.

Adelson recently indicated that he owned the sidewalks and would not allow any demonstrations.

Venetian President Bill Weidner said today that police would be asked to arrest any demonstrators interfering with workers putting the finishing touches on the megaresort.

"If people come on to our private property and demonstrate, absolutely we'll request they be arrested," he said.

"We've got about 3,500 good union members building this project. If they get in the way of the progress of those people doing their work, we don't have any choice."

That drew an angry response from Culinary Union Staff Director D. Taylor, who believes the sidewalks are public.

"That some casino owner can decide he can discriminate against who goes on the sidewalks even though the public is allowed on them is outrageous," Taylor said.

"We'll have people prepared to be arrested, including the congressman, and that'll be bad for the entire city."

Gary Peck, executive director of the Southern Nevada American Civil Liberties Union, also lashed out at the Venetian.

"The idea that those sidewalks are private property is frightening and transparently unconstitutional, and the ACLU will do everything in its power to ensure that the public's First Amendment rights are preserved," Peck said.

Peck added that the national ACLU has taken a "keen interest" in the brewing sidewalk battle because it "poses such a serious threat to freedom of speech and expression nationwide."

"I am heartened at the fact that the national spotlight will be shined on this issue," Peck said.

Lewis, a veteran of the civil-rights movement of the 1960s, could not be reached for comment today, but an aide in Washington confirmed that Lewis planned to participate in the Venetian demonstration.

The congressman is coming to Las Vegas next week to attend the Culinary Union's international executive board meeting.

Taylor said Lewis asked to participate in the demonstration after he was told of Adelson's position about the sidewalks.

"He felt strongly that he should be there," Taylor said of Lewis.

"He believes this is similar to what he went through during the civil-rights movement."

The Culinary Union, Taylor said, has tested the sidewalk issue in the past in other labor disputes.

In 1994, more than 500 union members were arrested on the sidewalks during a protest at the MGM Grand. Since then, a change in management has allowed the union to reach a labor agreement with the MGM.

According to the union, the labor dispute at the Venetian stems from Adelson's refusal to give workers who were let go when the Sands hotel-casino was demolished first crack at Venetian jobs.

Adelson, union officials said, also is refusing to provide a "neutral environment" for workers to choose whether they want to be represented by the union.

The union wants the Venetian to allow organizing efforts at the Venetian by card check rather than a formal election process. Other just-opened megaresorts have agreed to card checks.

Adelson says he has put together a wage and benefit package for Venetian employees that is superior to the union's.