Columnist Jeff German: Heartless casinos betray their workers

Friday, Oct. 5, 2001 | 4:38 a.m.

Thousands of employees along the Strip, however, remain out of jobs.

Last week's column, "It's hard to feel patriotic with no job," stirred up much talk within the casino industry.

More than two dozen laid-off casino workers and their friends telephoned or wrote in, agreeing with the premise that the industry had overreacted by cutting loose so many people so fast after the attacks.

The Mandalay Resort Group, one of several companies turning their backs on loyal employees, wasn't as sympathetic.

Tony Alamo, Mandalay's senior vice president, drew the assignment of delivering the company's position.

"It is inappropriate to attack the gaming industry in what are extraordinarily trying times for everyone in our city, our state and our nation," Alamo wrote. "The impact that the events of September 11 have had on the Las Vegas market has been devastating.

"The decisions that gaming companies have had to make have been both difficult and distressing, and most certainly were not an overreaction as you asserted."

Alamo said 15 percent of the jobs at his company were "cut in the short term so that many more jobs could be saved in the long run."

Then Alamo went on to say that Mandalay was determined to bring back its laid-off workers as soon as possible.

"Perhaps at this time," he said, "you could better serve Las Vegas Sun readers and the industry by joining us in enhancing the morale of employees that are working and striving to keep the spirits and hopes high for those temporarily out of work throughout our community."

Alamo and Mandalay certainly have a right to explain their decisions to abandon their workers in this time of tragedy.

But to claim that it's "inappropriate" to criticize the industry at this time merely reaffirms the perception that the industry has become cold-hearted.

How high is Cathi Campo's morale right now? Her husband was among those in management laid off at a prominent hotel on the Strip. Campo and her husband, who have a 3-year-old daughter, still have bills to pay, similar to most of us.

"They should be ashamed of themselves," she wrote. "But alas, when you are devoid of conscience, it's impossible to do so."

No one is more patriotic than Paul Murphy, a 34-year-old bartender who recently got his walking papers from the Bellagio. Murphy spent six years in the Marines before joining the casino industry in 1991. He said he still loves his country, but no longer is as high on the industry.

And then there's Janet Rice, who moved here a year ago after being told this is a friendly place to live and work.

"The casinos have forgotten that it's the employees that keep the customers coming back, not upper management," she wrote.

As for Alamo, he should remember that the media have no obligation to boost the morale of his employees and raise the spirits of those he put out of work.

That's his job.