Culinary, Riviera reach tentative agreement

By Jeff German

Thursday, June 6, 2002 | 11:06 a.m.

The Culinary Union late Wednesday reached a tentative contract agreement with the Riviera similar to those struck with the Strip megaresorts that give workers their largest ever increase in wages and benefits.

"It's the same deal, in terms of health and welfare and housekeeping, that the other properties have signed," Glen Arnodo, the union's political director, said this morning.

Those agreements, involving some 36,000 union members at 18 megaresorts, provide for a nearly $3.24 hourly increase in wages and benefits over five years. Workers at those hotels were expected today to ratify the contracts, which guarantee continued free health care, in two voting sessions at the Cashman Center.

The five-year Riviera agreement, which covers about 800 employees, is expected to move along talks with the other still-unsigned Strip resorts -- the Stratosphere, Sahara, Barbary Coast and Stardust.

It also likely will give the union momentum heading into difficult negotiations with downtown casinos.

The union has set a July 1 strike deadline for the 16 remaining properties, which mostly are from downtown.

"We really applaud the Riviera for bringing this to a successful conclusion," Culinary Secretary-Treasurer D. Taylor said. "As a stand-alone property at the north end of the Strip, the Riviera has certainly had its challenges competing with the newer megaresorts. Yet the company was committed to doing the right thing for its employees.

"The downtown casino owners could certainly learn from the example set by the Riviera."

Attorney Gregory Kamer, who represents seven downtown casinos, said the Riviera deal won't affect his negotiating position.

'It's wonderful that the Riviera can see itself through to meet the economics of the Strip package," he said. "But it doesn't change a thing in terms of the economics of downtown."

Kamer plans to make a presentation Friday to union members showing that his clients -- Binion's Horseshoe, Four Queens, Fitzgerald's, Union Plaza, Las Vegas Club, El Cortez and the Western -- are in poorer financial shape than their Strip counterparts.

"I would hope that Mr. Taylor is open-minded enough to look at the economics that will be displayed on Friday and realize that these properties can't afford that package," he said.

Union leaders are miffed at Kamer for engaging the union in a war of words this week, as the negotiations intensify.

"Rather than talk and escalate the rhetoric like some of the downtown properties, the Riviera just got down to business and signed a contract," Arnodo said.

But Kamer said he merely has been reacting to the union's unwavering negotiating stand.

"We need to break through that stubborn mind-set of the union and look at the reality of the situation," he said.

Earlier this week Kamer said that if his clients were forced to take the Strip deal, it could lead to the "financial ruin" of downtown.

"It's insane and irresponsible of the union bosses to try to risk the future of these workers' professional lives," he said.

The union, meanwhile, is expecting another boost today in its negotiations with the downtown properties when members at the 18 megaresorts ratify their contracts.

"There's no question as to what the outcome will be," Arnodo said. "The union negotiating committees have unanimously recommended the agreements. The workers think this is a good contract."

Arnodo said the union plans a 2 p.m. demonstration Saturday on Fremont Street with members of the United Auto Workers to draw attention to the downtown negotiations.

About 1,500 UAW members, who are holding a convention at the MGM Grand, will be bused downtown for the demonstration, Arnodo said.