The conflict between Culinary Local 226 and Station Casinos is legendary in Las Vegas and has spanned more than a decade. Member of the culinary would show up and nearly every public event produced by Station to try to force the company to unionize. Station resisted all attempts at a vote because the union insisted on a “card check,” a public vote where other employees know who voted for what.
“We have said all along that if a fair and lawful election is held we will abide by the results,” Richard Haskins, president of Station Casinos, said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the union appears to remain afraid of a fair process and continues to coerce and deceive our team members in an effort to obtain a yes vote.”
But when the union finally shifted tactics and accepted a secret ballot election at Boulder Station, the results were surprising, to more than a few.
With 576 of the 1,200 Boulder Station eligible to vote, the measure to allow the union to organize was approved by an almost 2-to-1 margin, 355-177.
“We applaud the tremendous courage and determination of the Boulder Station workers, who have resoundingly rejected the company’s anti-union campaign to discourage and scare them over the years, especially over the last two weeks,” Geoconda Arguello-Kline, secretary-treasurer for the Culinary Union, said in a union release. “Workers at Boulder Station have made their choice to unionize and we look forward to contract negotiations starting as soon possible.”
Haskins said Station would honor the results.
“While we are disappointed with the manner in which the union conducted the Boulder Station election campaign and with the election result, we accept it and will satisfy our legal obligation to bargain in good faith, with a sincere desire to reach agreement,” Haskins said. “We trust this brings an end to the corporate terrorism campaign waged by the union against us that was based on the falsehood that the U.S. government is incapable of conducting a secret-ballot election.”
