‘Las Vegas Dream’ Laundry workers reach a deal

Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007 | 7:10 a.m.

Culinary Union Local 226 organizer Maria Kubiak hugs Alexis Cruz, 8, whose mother works for Mission Industries, during a final union meeting before their contract negotiations session with Mission Industries at the Culinary's headquarters.

The laundry, which provides most of the linens used by tourists, met with the Culinary for about an hour Monday before the union announced that both sides had reached a tentative agreement. Details won't be known until the deal is ratified by members today, but initial comments from the Culinary suggest Mission signed on to the union's health plan, the key point of contention. "We are thrilled that the negotiating committee was able to achieve its goal of making the 'Las Vegas Dream' real for laundry workers in Las Vegas," said Kevin Kline, the union's lead negotiator in the Mission talks. "This new contract will ensure that laundry workers in Las Vegas are able to join the rest of the members of the Culinary Union in having a great health plan and a voice on the job. It is great to see Mission Industries setting a new standard for laundry workers in this town." The resolution further clears the plate for the Culinary to weigh in with its presidential endorsement. Union boss D. Taylor had said the endorsement was taking a back seat until contracts were struck with Mission and the Tropicana.