In labor dispute, Venetian looks for allies in religion

Stacy J. Willis

Monday, March 22, 1999 | 11:15 a.m.

Preach. Help the poor. Comfort the weary.

Respond to invitations from casino magnates interested in swaying your opinion about labor relations. The role of the clergy in Las Vegas now includes the Venetian hotel-casino's dispute with the Culinary Union.

The hotel sent letters to clergy valley-wide -- some politically active, some not -- inviting them to an informational luncheon this week intended to ally them with the hotel in its battle with the union.

Members of the Las Vegas Interfaith Council for Workers Justice have been more allied with the union in recent labor disputes.

The invitation marks the first time in recent history that a Las Vegas casino magnate has recognized the clergy as instrumental in a public relations battle and invited them to the table to discuss the issues, according to religious leaders. "Our sincere hope is that once you know the facts, you will share our view that the rights of our employees should be protected," says the letter from David Newton, the Venetian's vice president of human resources. The letter was sent to 42 religious leaders of differing faiths, Newton said. Lead by Sheldon Adelson, chief executive and sole shareholder of Venetian and owner Las Vegas Sands Inc., the Venetian is resisting Culinary union organizing efforts. The resort is scheduled to open next month.

Management says the wage and benefit package offered to employees exceeds anything currently offered in contracts negotiated by the union at other resorts. Workers' activists worry that the compensation packages may shrink without the stewardship of union representatives. The resort's letter to clergy continues: "Once the Venetian has opened its doors, we expect the Culinary Union to intensify its negative public relations campaign. We believe that you will be asked to support the union's campaign against us...

"We hope you will join us on March 24 so we can discuss this and other ideas in greater detail." Newton said the resort intended to send the letters only to members of the Interfaith Council, an interdenominational group of clergy that was formed in orchestration with the AFL-CIO in 1997.

The 21-member Interfaith Council was active in union protests against non-union New York-New York subcontractor Ark Restaurants Corp. last spring.

But the Interfaith Council executive director was not invited, and 21 clergy who are not members of the council were invited.

"It is unprecedented in this community for an employer who is at the center of a labor problem to try to reach out and organize the clergy to support him," said Mike Slater, executive director of the Interfaith Council. "He wants to at least neutralize them."

"I think the effect will be that he will create an awareness that the clergy really has to understand the issue," Slater said. "But the clergy don't spin easily. You can't just invite them to a song and dance and have them go away entranced."

Culinary Union organizer Tom Snyder said he is "pleased that the clergy will have the opportunity to have the Venetian talk about why it's so anti-union."

Snyder said the union, too, will be interested in the opinion of clergy as the dispute continues.

"Religious leaders have a keen ear for justice issues," said Snyder. "We're going to do a lot of things as this goes forward that will involve bringing the issue to a lot of different people in the community, including religious leaders."

Although religious leaders in America have played key roles in various political issues, notably the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, some in the present day would prefer to minister to their congregations and not become entrenched in community disputes. "By and large, the clergy is hesitant to get into these debates," said the Rev. Hilda Pecoraro, pastor of Green Valley Presbyterian church who received an invitation and is not a member of the Interfaith Council. "We may have people in our congregation who may side with one interest or the other. And, there are so many different things you could become involved in, time won't allow for you to do them all.

"But the Bible says a lot about seeking justice for the poor if the rich exploit them. And I think one of the roles of the church has always been speaking out, standing on the margins of society and calling things what they are. I think the clergy really do have a moral weight in the community.

"So I don't see it as necessarily a bad thing to invite clergy. Over all, (Adelson) knows that there is going to be an uphill battle, and to give any impression to the community that he is a person who cares enough to involve all strata of the community is probably going to help him."