Union adding to complaint against Station Casinos

The Culinary union said Wednesday it plans to file additional charges against Station Casinos, accusing the company of anti-union activities.

The union announced its plans during a press conference, two days after the locals gaming company filed a response to 127-count National Labor Relations Board complaint charging it with unfair labor practices.

In its response, the gaming company said the complaint should be dismissed, in part, because it fails to establish that any law was broken even if the allegations are true.

Station Casinos said in a statement that it will defend itself vigorously and will prevail.

Station Casinos spokeswoman Lori Nelson said the company's track record shows the company is pro-employee.

"For nearly 35 years, we have prided ourselves on treating our team members fair and with the utmost respect," Nelson said in a statement. "I think that is evidenced by the fact that we are the only gaming company ever to be selected by Fortune magazine among their '100 Best Companies To Work For' for four years in a row."

The original complaint, which was amended June 11, alleges the gaming company violated federal law in trying to discourage organizing efforts by the Culinary Local 226.

A hearing on the complaint is set for Aug. 16.

Union leaders held a press conference Wednesday at which they made their first public comments on the complaint since it was issued nearly four weeks ago.

Union spokeswoman Maya Holmes said the union withheld comment until now because legal counsel was reviewing the complaint.

"We wanted to make sure our information was accurate," Holmes said. "We wanted to make sure we fully understood the implications of it."

Union President Geoconda Arguello-Kline said the union plans to file additional charges, possibly including seven wrongful terminations the union withdrew before the complaint being issued.

"We are going to hold the company accountable," Arguello-Kline told approximately 200 workers and press gathered at the union's downtown headquarters.

The 127-count complaint is the largest the union has pursued against any gaming company, she said.

The union accuses the Station Casinos of "violating federal labor law in over 100 incidents by threatening, surveilling, physically assaulting and intimidating workers for their union activities."

Nelson called the rally another "media stunt" in the union's 13-year attempt to organize Station Casinos' workers.

Nelson said the company recognizes workers' right to organize but she is surprised that union dues are being used to try to organize Station Casinos during the recession.

"We continue to be amazed that the union leadership uses its members' due in attempting to organize our team members instead of trying to find jobs for the thousands of Culinary union members who have been laid off during this recession," Nelson said.

Approximately 5,500 Station Casinos employees work in departments that the Culinary union represents at other casinos, Holmes said.

Those departments include front-line service positions, including house keeping, bartending, restaurant workers, porters and other nongaming casino and hotel positions.

The Culinary union represents about 55,000 workers on the Strip and downtown.

Contact reporter Arnold M. Knightly at aknightly@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893.