Friday, October 10, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
Federal judge orders Palms to reinstate cook
By JEFF SIMPSON
GAMING WIRE
A federal judge has ordered the Palms to reinstate a worker he said was axed for union organizing efforts, and also ordered the boutique casino property to quit violating federal labor laws.
San Francisco-based Administrative Law Judge Burton Litvack ordered the Palms to reinstate fired cook Martin Perez in a decision signed Sept. 30 and released Sunday.
Perez was fired in January 2002, and Litvack said the firing was based on Perez' Culinary union organizing activities at the Flamingo Road hotel.
The judge also ordered the Palms to reimburse Perez for lost income he suffered as a result of the unjust termination.
Palms general manager Jim Hughes was unavailable Thursday afternoon for comment. In September, Hughes said the property obeys federal labor laws.
Culinary Political Director Glen Arnodo said the judge's decision reveals the true anti-worker actions of the Palms and its owner, George Maloof.
"It's ironic that George Maloof and the Palms have become known for attracting celebrity clients from the sports and entertainment industries, almost all of whom belong to unions, while he attempts to take away the very same rights to belong to a union to his dishwashers, housekeepers and other workers at the Palms," Arnodo said in a Thursday statement.
The judge also ordered the Palms to cease and desist from:
• Discharging employees for engaging in union-support activities.
• Issuing warning notices to employees for engaging in union-support activities.
• Interrogating employees about their union sympathies and activities.
