First Cal. Indian casino union pact approved

Friday, Oct. 22, 1999 | 11:50 a.m.

THE ASSPOCIATED PRESS

ALPINE, Calif. -- Communication Workers of America members have approved the first union contract for employees at a California Indian casino.

Nearly 700 service and maintenance employees of a casino owned by the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians will receive a salary increase and benefits equaling a 15 percent pay hike under the new, two-year contract, said Michael Hartigan, CWA Local 9400 executive vice president.

The amount of the pay increase ranges from 42 cents per hour to about $1.40 per hour, Hartigan said.

The union official declined to provide details about the vote, except to say more than 80 percent of the ballots cast were in favor of the contract.

"We had an excellent turnout and an overwhelming vote," he said.

Tribal officials must sign the contract before it can take effect, but that is considered a formality since the union and tribe had negotiated the agreement voted on by union members, Viejas spokeswoman Nikki Symington said

"There's not going to be any problem with it," Symington said.

Under the agreement, service and maintenance workers at the Viejas Casino and Turf Club, 30 miles east of San Diego, can reopen negotiations over their wages in the second year of the contract.

Workers can also earn up to an additional 8 percent increase under a bonus program run by the casino. The contract also sets compensation policies for sick days, jury duty and holidays.