Culinary threatens action

Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2003 | 11:21 a.m.

The Culinary Union is threatening to either boycott, strike, picket or leaflet customers at Aztar Corp.'s Tropicana resort-casino in Las Vegas after negotiations failed for a new collective bargaining agreement.

The union's contract with Tropicana's 1,200 workers expired on May 31, but the parties were unable to reach a new agreement because of Aztar's alleged refusal to agree to priority hiring for existing employees if the company proceeds with plans to redevelop the Tropicana.

"The Tropicana is the last remaining union gaming company in Las Vegas without a contract with the Culinary Union," D. Taylor, Culinary's secretary-treasurer, said.

But Hector Mon, president of Tropicana Las Vegas, disputed the union's claims, saying it is continuing to negotiate in good faith.

"We have agreed in principle to the terms of the agreement that was reached between the union and other Las Vegas hotels on May 31, 2002, and have been paying the increases for health care and pension benefits provided for in that agreement," he said.

"The issues that remain unresolved relate to the possible redevelopment of the Tropicana Las Vegas. A decision to proceed with a redevelopment has not been made and the nature of such a redevelopment, if it were to take place, is not known at this time," Mon said.