MGM Grand workers approve five-year deal

MGM Grand workers who are represented by the Culinary and Bartenders unions ratified a new five-year collective bargaining agreement Saturday that is similar to other Strip resort contracts ratified before the economic downturn.

Additionally, workers at Strip casino properties approved a plan to defer this year's raises until next June 1 to help resorts manage the poor economy.

The money deferred will be spread over the remainder of the contracts for 35,000 workers with properties owned by Harrah's Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Las Vegas Hilton, Tropicana, Riviera, Sahara and Planet Hollywood Resort.

The agreement extends the contracts an extra year to 2013.

A similar agreement with downtown hotel-casinos is still being negotiated.

The new MGM Grand agreement, which covers nearly 2,500 workers for Culinary Local 226 and Bartenders Local 165, calls for an annual cost-of-living increase.

Workers retained their family health insurance plan where employees are not required to pay premiums.

Also, the contract maintained the company's contributions to the employee pension fund.