Culinary saddened at DI closure

Friday, June 23, 2000 | 11:25 a.m.

Calling the closure of the Desert Inn a "sad, sad day for myself and this union," Las Vegas Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Jim Arnold vowed to assist the property's employees in finding new jobs.

"We have long-term workers who have been there for 20 years or more, and we're losing another landmark on the Strip," Arnold said. "But Vegas has changed, whether we like it or not. This community has to be competitive to keep up with the rest of the country."

The Culinary currently represents 723 of the DI's 1,500 employees. Desert Inn owner Steve Wynn has said he will close the property by Sept. 30 to make way for development of a new megaresort, but vowed to assist the employees in finding new jobs. Desert Inn employees would also have first preference in hiring at the new property, Wynn said.

"I for one would never second-guess Steve Wynn," Arnold said. "He's proven himself right in everything he's done so far.

"I'm very confident he'll do the right thing as he's done in the past. He's said he'll assist the workers, give preferential treatment when it does open. I know he'll keep his word on that."

Arnold said the union has not firmed up its plans for assisting employees in finding new jobs, but guaranteed such an effort would be initiated.

"We're going to do everything possible to get them hired elsewhere," Arnold said. "Our track record has shown we'll do everything possible, and so has Steve Wynn. We'll be talking with not only the Aladdin, but all the other properties this week to get preferential treatment (for the DI employees).

"We have some great, great people out there, some of the best on the Strip. I'm confident they'll be hired, and we'll do everything we can to get that done."

Wynn had good relations with the Culinary when he ran Mirage Resorts Inc., which is now owned by MGM Grand Inc.

The Aladdin megaresort is due to open in August.