NLRB accuses Mirage of violating labor law

Grace Leong

Wednesday, July 19, 2000 | 11:05 a.m.

The government filed a complaint against Mirage Resorts Inc. accusing it of violating federal labor laws when it allegedly refused to negotiate a contract with the Carpenters Union for 22 maintenance carpenters and upholsterers at the Mirage hotel-casino.

The Southern California/Nevada Regional Council of Carpenters filed charges of unfair labor practices against Mirage Resorts with the National Labor Relations Board on April 17, alleging the Mirage hired labor consultants to spy on, interrogate and threaten maintenance workers before they made their request for union recognition on March 21.

Following an investigation of the charges, the NLRB issued a complaint on May 31 against Mirage, alleging it violated labor laws when it threatened workers with loss of benefits if they joined the union, promised unlawful benefits and demoted and disciplined employees for union activities.

A hearing on the NLRB's complaint is scheduled on Dec. 5.

Some 300 Carpenters held a rally Friday at the Mirage as part of their protest against the hotel-casino.

"This is the first time we are trying to organize MGM MIRAGE workers and the first rally since MGM officially took over Mirage. We hope to send the message to the MGM that we're serious about representing the carpenters," said Jim Sala, the Carpenters' director of organizing. To date, the Mirage is mostly represented by the Culinary Union.

MGM Grand Inc. acquired Mirage Resorts on May 31 for $6.4 billion, and said it intends to change its name to MGM MIRAGE.

The NLRB complaint alleged Edward Fieger, a former Mirage foreman, was demoted in January and hasn't been reinstated, while David Kowal, a carpenter, allegedly received an unwarranted written reprimand in February.

The complaint said the maintenance workers' supervisors allegedly threatened them with reduced wages and loss of benefits if they joined the union, and were told their vehicles would be photographed if they visited the union hall.

Alan Feldman, MGM MIRAGE's spokesman, declined to comment specifically on the NLRB complaint.

But he said: "The union should stop playing games and remove the obstacles they put in place to get an election. First, the union put in an election request and then they immediately filed unfair labor charges, which put the election on hold."

"The union should stop dragging its feet and let the free will of the 22 employees be determined," he said. "We have a right to express our opinion to our employees and will do so if and when it's appropriate."

While MGM MIRAGE says the hotel-casino workers should be allowed vote on whether to join the union, the carpenters said they oppose an election because they say a majority of Mirage workers have already chosen to join the union.

"We are asking for representation. We never wanted an election," Sala said. "We think the employees have already designated a representative ... they've already signed the authorization cards, so there's no need for an election. The whole purpose of the NLRB Act is to allow employees to freely choose a bargaining representative."

"A good example as to why employees don't want an election process is the Santa Fe. The hotel-casino asked for an election to be held after a majority of the workers there signed up for representation. They won the election seven years ago, but they still don't have a contract," he said.