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Union Boss Says Hotels Can Avoid Strike
by Howard Stutz
Casino City Times

UNITED STATES -- A nationwide labor dispute involving 60,000 hotel workers in major North American cities could be averted if the hotel industry were to adopt some of the policies major casino companies use, the national union chief for lodging and food service workers said Thursday.

In a conference call sponsored by Wall Street investment house Bear Stearns, UNITE HERE President John Wilhelm told stock analysts and portfolio managers who follow the hotel industry that a nationwide strike by hotel workers could wipe out all the financial gains lodging companies have achieved in the past few years.

Labor contracts at almost 200 hotels in six cities, operated by such national companies as Hilton Hotels Corp., Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Marriott International and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, will expire this year. Wilhelm said not much has happened yet in the way of negotiations.

Wilhelm said the union -- the parent organization of Culinary Local 226, which represents 60,000 Las Vegas hotel, casino and restaurant workers -- has worked closely with the gaming industry to create programs and structure contracts that benefit both management and workers.

He named the Culinary Training Academy, which prepares workers for casino industry jobs, as one way the union and the casinos have worked together.

"I understand there are some differences between the hotel industry and the gaming industry," Wilhelm said. "Why the gaming industry has embraced that approach toward value-added opportunities and the hotel industry hasn't is a mystery to me. There is no reason we can't move forward."

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