Culinary leader optimistic in talks with Golden Gate

Tuesday, July 9, 2002 | 11:03 a.m.

The Culinary Union and the Golden Gate were to return to the bargaining table this morning in a bid to resolve an eight-day strike downtown.

D. Taylor, the union's secretary-treasurer said that he was optimistic a deal could be struck.

"I'm hopeful of reaching a settlement today," said Taylor, who explained that health insurance has been the primary stumbling block in the negotiations.

The union wants the 106-room Golden Gate to make the same increases in contributions to its health fund as 34 other downtown and Strip casinos.

The Golden Gate, the oldest and smallest of the hotels negotiating with the union over the last three months, has proposed switching union employees to the company's health insurance to save money.

Both sides, however, said they were trying to work out a compromise that would allow Culinary employees to remain on the union's health plan.

LaVonne Ritter of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service was expected to attend today's negotiations, which were to get under way at 10 a.m. at the Culinary Union hall.

Taylor said the federal mediator's presence has been helpful in moving both sides closer. Ritter attended the talks on Friday.

The union has been on strike since July 1, when the Golden Gate refused to take the same deal as other economically distressed downtown casinos.

In an effort to tone down the noise on the picket line, Taylor said, the union has opted to avoid using bull-horns from midnight until 8 a.m.

The Las Vegas Club, the Golden Gate's competitor across the street, has complained that it's losing business because of the vocal strike.

Pickets have been heckling Golden Gate customers as they enter and leave the casino.