LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Some 165 workers at the city's oldest hotel-casino went on strike while employees at other downtown hotels signed five-year contracts, avoiding what could have been the largest casino strike in Nevada in two decades.þþAbout 165 of the 330 unionized Golden Gate Hotel maids, bartenders and bellmen walked off their jobs Monday at 6 p.m. as negotiators signed contracts with dozens of other hotels. Food service workers also joined the strike.þþ``The owner hasn't made a contract offer, so the workers feel they have no alternative,'' said Glen Arnodo, political director of Culinary Local 226. ``These are long-term employees who aren't about to work without health care and pension or go without wage increases.''þþGolden Gate owner Mark Brandenburg said he's disappointed that the committee made the decision to strike without talking directly to the workers.þþMeanwhile, marathon negotiations produced new contracts for most downtown hotels, avoiding a walkout by about 5,000 union workers.þþTentative agreements were reached late Sunday with Main Street Station, Fitzgeralds, Fremont, Four Queens and Jerry's Nugget, said Glen Arnodo, union spokesman. An agreement with the Plaza was reached early Monday.þþJohn Wilhelm, chief negotiator for the Culinary Union, refused to release terms of the contracts until they are ratified. He said ratification votes will be scheduled this week.þþ``We all got what we needed,'' said Greg Kamer, an attorney representing a number of downtown hotels. ``The owners got some breaks on when raises will go into effect allowing them to get their finances in order after 9-11.''þþTalks were suspended for 90 union workers at the Western Hotel & Bingo Park after management announced that the 109-room hotel will close after Sept. 1, said Wilhelm.þ
Source: NY Times
