Transport Workers win Tropicana vote

Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2001 | 11:17 a.m.

Dealers at the Las Vegas Strip's Tropicana hotel-casino voted heavily in favor of unionization Monday, marking the first win in the Transport Workers Union's organizing campaign.

Out of 174 eligible dealers, 112 voted to be represented by the TWU, while just 51 voted against. As of this morning, neither side had filed objections to the vote. The property is owned by Aztar Corp. of Phoenix.

"We are disappointed in the outcome of the election, but we respect the dealers' decision," Tropicana spokeswoman Jessica Berg said in a statement. "As soon as our attorneys have reviewed the conduct of the election we will comply fully with our legal obligations."

The affirmative vote marks the first time in 20 years that dealers at a Las Vegas property have voted to be represented by a union. In 1977 and 1981, dealers at the New Frontier voted to be represented by Teamsters Local 14, but contract talks stalled, and the Teamsters pulled out in 1987.

Two previous votes in the TWU's organizing campaign, at the Monte Carlo and Las Vegas Hilton, went heavily against the union. The TWU has filed formal objections to the Monte Carlo vote.

Elections are scheduled to be held this weekend among dealers at the Stratosphere and the MGM Grand.