Unions and labor

In dispute with Culinary, UFC counters with attack site of its own: Monday, May 20, 2013; By Ed Komenda; After two years of battling the Culinary while fighting to legalize the sport in New York, the UFC’s counter jab comes in the form of a critical website aimed at exposing the union’s “smear campaign,” the company said.

With Strip contracts expiring, Culinary Union votes on increasing strike funds: Monday, May 20, 2013; By Ed Komenda; The Culinary Union is preparing for the worst. Thousands of its members gathered at Cashman Field on Monday to vote on an increase in dues to plump up the Local 226 strike fund. The votes come just two weeks before union contracts expire along the Strip.

One move to fund education meeting opposition from school boards, teachers' union: Monday, May 13, 2013; Education:; By Cy Ryan; Gov. Brian Sandoval’s plan to give tax subsidies to help low-income students attend private schools ran into opposition Monday from school boards and a teachers’ union.

Cost to ease crowded Clark County classrooms put at $1.2 billion: Monday, May 6, 2013; Education:; By Paul Takahashi; Reducing class sizes in Southern Nevada to the national average would take $1.2 billion over four years, according to figures recently released by the Clark County School District. But it will take more than the will of the School District or its teachers union to bring class sizes down. The Nevada Legislature also will have to agree — and find a way to fund the effort.

Union ties: The fates of Culinary and the Strip are inextricably linked: Monday, May 6, 2013; By Ed Komenda; As Nevada focuses on recovering from the collapsed real estate market and a sweeping recession that hemorrhaged jobs and rocketed the unemployment rate to a record level, it’s easy to question the state and strength of unions here. But organized labor appears to be stronger here than anywhere else.

Lawmaker: GAO report shows lives, safety of Nevada workers at risk: Friday, April 19, 2013; By Karoun Demirjian; Lawmakers are reintroducing a bill to expand the federal government’s ability to assist states in performing their workplace safety oversight obligations, after a government report indicated Nevada was falling woefully short of its goals.

Court says warehouse workers must be paid for time in security checks: Friday, April 12, 2013; By Cy Ryan; A federal appeals court has ruled that warehouse workers in Las Vegas and Fernley should be paid for time they spend going through security checks at the end of their shifts.

Union leaders balk at NLV's budget-cutting plans: Friday, April 12, 2013; City overinflating fiscal problems, labor leaders contend; By Conor Shine; North Las Vegas officials laid out a stark reality during a budget meeting earlier this week: With the city facing an $18 million deficit next year, more concessions from employee unions will be needed.

Cab companies say strikers spitting on, assaulting employees: Saturday, April 6, 2013; By Richard N. Velotta; Taxi industry regulators are preparing to put additional cabs on the city’s streets next week while drivers from the two largest taxi company groups continue to squabble with company management.

Local clergy side with union in battle with Station Casinos: Thursday, April 4, 2013; Labor:; By Ed Komenda; Local clergy members have published a letter addressed to Station Casinos urging the company to play along with the Culinary Union’s efforts to organize. “We have met with workers from Station Casinos, heard their cries for justice, and we cannot stand by idly,” the letter reads. It was written March 29 and signed by more than 80 members of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice. “We pray you soften your hearts, hear your workers, and agree to a fair process.”

Teachers' business-tax measure catches break on 2014 ballot: Tuesday, April 2, 2013; By Andrew Doughman; Nevada’s teachers union can breathe a sigh of relief tonight because the secretary of state has put the damper on a Republican alternative to their tax proposal.

Minimum wage in Nevada to stay at $7.25 per hour: Monday, April 1, 2013; By Cy Ryan; The state’s minimum wage of $7.25 per hour will remain the same as it has been since 2009, state Labor Commissioner Thoran Towler announced today.

Friends or foes? Culinary Union to meet with MGM, Caesars for contract talks: Monday, April 1, 2013; By Ed Komenda; It’s that time again: Culinary Union leaders are getting ready to sit down with executives from the Strip's two largest companies — MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment — to renegotiate contracts that are set to expire June 1. The talks, scheduled to begin Friday, come at a particularly contentious and important time for the the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Beverage and Dispensers Union Local 165.

Libertarian think tank sues School District for access to teacher email addresses: Thursday, March 28, 2013; By Paul Takahashi; Are teacher email addresses a matter of public record? That's the question at the crux of Nevada Policy Research Institute's latest lawsuit against the Clark County School District. The lawsuit was filed Thursday morning.

Union warns passengers about Southwest's outsourcing plans: Thursday, March 28, 2013; By Richard N. Velotta; Union representatives say Southwest Airlines customers would receive second-class service if the company — the busiest air carrier at McCarran International Airport — hires outsourced labor to supplement its workforce.