Union workers promise return

Jace Radke

Friday, Aug. 18, 2000 | 11:20 a.m.

Donald Sellers was part of a group of union workers who thought they were going to the Aladdin hotel-casino and then going to jail Thursday night.

"I was arrested at the Frontier twice, and this will be the third time for me," said Sellers, a bellman at Circus Circus, who was among the hundreds gathered Thursday night to protest the megaresort opening without a union contract.

But Sellers and about 100 other handpicked members of Culinary Local 226 had to take a rain check on getting fitted for handcuffs because the Aladdin's casino did not open as planned at 7 p.m.

"We had over 100 shop stewards who volunteered to go into the casino in an orderly fashion and try to talk to the workers," said Kevin Kline, the union's director of organizing. "But they're not frustrated, because we'll be back to go in with 300."

Protesters from the local carpenters, bartenders, Culinary and other unions started to gather in front of the Aladdin at about 4:30 p.m. Kline estimated that more than 2,000 workers were marching on Las Vegas Boulevard between Harmon Avenue and Paris Las Vegas, but Metro Police Lt. Gary Schofield said he thought it was closer to 1,000.

The union members, hoisting signs that read, "Aladdin Unfair," were greeted by huge sets of speakers on the Aladdin property blaring mostly Middle-Eastern music. Between songs the protesters' chants and cheers could be heard, but they were drowned out by the music that was so loud it caused tourists to cover their ears as they walked by.

"We really don't mind the music, it's actually helping us to keep the lines lively and our spirits up," Kline said. "Next time we'll bring our speakers."

The picketers marched up and down the two eastern lanes of the Strip next to water-filled plastic barriers that separated the lanes from the rest of the road. The barriers and metal barricades along the sidewalk in front of the Aladdin created a corridor that picketers and tourists walking the Strip shared.

"The barricades really worked well for us again, just like they did on New Year's," Schofield said. "We don't have the manpower to put a cop every five feet like New York does with large crowds, so the barricades really help us out."

Metro also had metal barricades set up along the west side of Las Vegas Boulevard across from the Aladdin to discourage jay-walking.

About 30 special events Metro officers and 20 patrol officers kept an eye on the protesters and the tourists waiting to get inside the Aladdin, and also helped to direct traffic and pedestrians on Las Vegas Boulevard. The patrol officers went back to their normal assignments after the Desert Passage mall opened its doors at 7 p.m.

The department's mounted unit was also patrolling the area, but was not needed for crowd control. There were no reported injuries, arrests or problems with the crowds or protesters, Schofield said.

Local union representatives got a boost from about 300 workers from across the country who were in town for a convention of the Teamsters Union Black Caucus. Teamster Terry Freeman said that his group had heard about the Aladdin and wanted to show support.

"We brought about four bus loads, and we heard that we had some brothers and sisters in trouble here," Freeman said. "Anytime we're in a city, and we can help, we want to be right down on the lines."

The protesters gathered in front of the north entrance to Desert Passage just before 7 p.m. chanting union slogans in an effort to drown out an opening ceremony that included an appearance by "I Dream of Genie's" Barbara Eden.

Once the mall opened the union members packed up their signs, saying they want to protest the casino not the mall.

"We smoked them tonight," Kline said, as the protesters cleared out. "The casino didn't open tonight, but we'll be back here many times to press our point."