Monday, May 27, 2002 | 6:09 a.m.
LAS VEGAS - A 3 a.m. agreement with MGM Mirage Inc. has given culinary workers and bartenders new five-year contracts with major Las Vegas Strip hotel-casinos, and could avert a strike next weekend.
The agreement reached early Monday means that about 35,000 of the 47,000 workers represented by Culinary Local 226 and Bartenders Local 165 have tentative deals with the hotels.
Officials called a June 1 strike less likely, but still a possibility pending the results of negotiations with the owners of smaller Strip and downtown Las Vegas properties.
"We're very pleased to have good contract settlements with all four of the largest companies, plus the Tropicana (hotel - casino)," John Wilhelm, chief union negotiator, told The Associated Press on Monday.
The five-year agreement with MGM Mirage came hours after negotiators reached a deal with Mandalay Resort Group. The union had reached agreements Thursday with Park Place Entertainment, Harrah's Entertainment and the Tropicana.
"We never had any doubt that we would reach agreement," said Alan Feldman, spokesman for MGM Mirage. "Our employees are far too valuable to us."
Wilhelm said ratification votes have not been scheduled, but should come within the next two weeks.
The union chief and the MGM spokesman both called approval likely, since member committees have unanimously endorsed each deal.
The five contracts have provisions specific to individual properties. However, each calls for $3.23-per-hour increases in wages and benefits over the life of the contracts.
The companies keep paying health benefits, and housekeepers are promised better working conditions.
Wilhelm said talks are continuing with hotel-casino owner Boyd Gaming and 14 other properties on the Strip and downtown.
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