Union seeks Sands arbitration

Thursday, April 11, 2002 | 10:59 a.m.

Culinary Workers Local 226 is trying to force Sheldon Adelson's Las Vegas Sands Inc. to go to arbitration to resolve claims that the union violated an old contract between the union and the Las Vegas Sands.

Las Vegas Sands, which owns the Venetian megaresort, was the owner of the Sands hotel-casino that was imploded in November 1996. Adelson sued the union in 1997, alleging it violated a 1994-1997 collective bargaining agreement with the old Sands hotel-casino when it allegedly applied political pressure to delay or deny licenses, permits and approvals for the Venetian in an effort to force Adelson to recognize the union.

The union on Wednesday said Adelson's claims that it acted in bad faith should be arbitrated by a labor relations expert because the process eliminates the expense and delay of court trials.

The union said it "reacted reasonably to what appeared to be an attack on its own existence by Adelson; his decisions to not follow other Las Vegas employers in offering jobs to displaced union members and not follow the standard industry agreement concerning union organizing procedures."

Sands officials could not be reached for comment on the union motion.