Union calls for dealer elections at nine properties

Friday, Nov. 10, 2000 | 11:25 a.m.

The Transport Workers Union has formally asked for elections to be held among dealers at nine Strip properties.

TWU officials announced Thursday that they would file petitions with the National Labor Relations Board over the next few days. The hotel-casinos that will be targeted for initial elections are Bally's, the Las Vegas Hilton, Luxor, MGM Grand, Monte Carlo, New York-New York, Riviera, Stratosphere and the Tropicana.

Timothy Grandfield, international director of organization for the TWU, said the union has received signed cards calling for representation by the union from 70 percent or more of the dealers at eight of the nine properties. A 30 percent margin is required for an election under NLRB regulations.

"Our desire was to start this motion with (properties) that had over 70 percent (of dealers signing) authorization cards," Grandfield said. "We feel we're pretty safe with 70 percent."

Once received by the NLRB, a formal hearing to determine a bargaining unit will be held within 10 days. If the NLRB establishes a bargaining unit, elections must be held within 40 days of the hearing -- meaning elections could occur at the properties within two months, said NLRB resident officer Michael Chavez.

Though a company can appeal the local NLRB decision to the Washington office, such appeals can delay an election only by a few weeks.