New York-New York in dispute involving 14 Teamsters workers

Tuesday, July 11, 2000 | 11:18 a.m.

Representatives of Teamsters Union Local 995 set up a picket line at the New York-New York hotel-casino Monday afternoon and said they will continue to demonstrate until a contract is reached for 14 Teamsters who work at the hotel's receiving dock.

Hotel officials said they were surprised by the action and would continue to work with the union.

Candace Claudio, president of the local, said there are two primary sticking points in negotiations between hotel management and the union, which has more than 2,800 members in Las Vegas.

Claudio said the union was recognized in an election at New York-New York in 1998 and employees have been working without a contract for more than two years. At issue in negotiations are disagreements on insurance and pensions.

A five-member union negotiating team met with New York-New York officials Monday, but Jim Santangelo, one of the union's team members, said hotel representatives would not offer pension and insurance programs comparable to Teamster packages at other resorts.

"It would only cost them $1.10 an hour (for the insurance program) for these employees and we said we would look at a comparable 401(k) for the pension program," Santangelo said. "But they wouldn't budge."

Claudio explained that the picket line, which grew to about 30 an hour after it began at 4 p.m., is comprised of Teamsters from other resort properties demonstrating in support of the New York-New York employees. She said none of the pickets work at the property, owned by MGM MIRAGE.

"We feel that if they participated, New York-New York would fire them," Claudio said.

The resort issued a statement this morning saying the company has worked with the Teamsters for 2 1/2 years.

"Frankly, we are very surprised by this action as we have always bargained in good faith with the Teamsters," said Dan Bradley, director of advertising and public relations for the property.

"We are hopeful that the Teamsters will agree to return to the bargaining table with the assistance of a federal mediator to resolve this for the 14 employees affected by these negotiations," he said.