Collective bargaining talks begin with American Indian tribe, employees

Tuesday, March 16, 1999 | 10:33 a.m.

In January, the CWA won the right to represent 500 food, beverage, housekeeping and maintenance employees at the Viejas Casino and Turf Club in Alpine, about 30 miles east of San Diego.

"This is going to be our first contract in the state with a sovereign Indian nation," said Tony Bixler, vice president of the CWA district covering California, Nevada and Hawaii. "I think this is going to be a long-lasting relationship that will be good for California workers and California tribes."

Viejas chairman Anthony Pico appeared equally upbeat about the negotiations, which began Monday.

"This is a very historic first for California Indian governments," Pico said. "We respect the decision of the Viejas Casino service employees to decide by democratic vote to be represented by the Communications Workers of America."

It was unclear how long negotiations would last or what issues were the most pressing for the workers, but Viejas leaders were prepared to "meet as often as necessary to make sure the process moves along," tribal spokeswoman Nikki Symington said.

The CWA will represent about 20 percent of the tribe's workers. The issue of unionization has become increasingly important as tribes hire more non-Indian employees for their casinos and retail businesses, Symington said.

Last year, the Viejas band approved a gaming compact with then-Gov. Pete Wilson that allowed it to keep 1,132 video slot machines only after protesting a provision that called for the tribe to remain neutral if casino employees wanted to unionize. Tribal officials argued that staying neutral would amount to forfeiting their right to free speech.

State officials gave the casino until Jan. 30 to reach an agreement with alternate unions before the provision went into effect.

But Proposition 5, which allows Nevada-style games on reservation casinos, was approved by voters in November and essentially makes the Viejas' compact moot. Opponents of Proposition 5 have filed a lawsuit to block the measure's implementation in a case pending before the state Supreme Court.

The CWA, which is part of the AFL-CIO, will bargain for workers on wages, hours and other conditions of employment.

The tribe's other employees not covered by the CWA have yet to express interest in unionization, Symington said.