Contract ratified for Reno properties

Tuesday, July 3, 2001 | 11:02 a.m.

RENO -- Culinary Union Local 86 has ratified a first-ever contract for 1,575 nongaming employees at two Reno properties owned by Park Place Entertainment Corp. of Las Vegas.

Starting Sunday, workers at the Reno Hilton and Flamingo Hilton-Reno received a 4.25 percent boost in wages and benefits, said Scott MacKenzie, secretary-treasurer of the union local.

"This contract takes great steps forward in providing affordable family health care coverage, one of the most critical issues faced by all workers in Reno," MacKenzie said.

"It's a good contract for everyone involved," said Park Place spokeswoman Debbie Munch. The Culinary Union represents 55,000 workers in Nevada, mostly in the Las Vegas area.

Its only other presence in Northern Nevada is at Circus Circus in Reno, where it has represented nongaming employees since 1981.

The contract covers 450 employees in housekeeping, food and beverage and other services at the Flamingo Hilton-Reno and more than 1,100 at the Reno Hilton, the biggest hotel in Northern Nevada with 2,000 rooms.