Casino Station Offered Workers Complimentary Steaks, Potentially Influencing Union Vote
A handful of days before Station Casinos employees decided whether to join forces with the Culinary Union, management attempted to sway employees against the union with the allure of scrumptious grub.
The company dished out more than 500 complimentary steaks to culinary workers in 2019, each sporting a "Vote No!" message. This was in response to employees complaining about the food quality at a free buffet earlier. The quality of food had become a significant concern among employees.
By offering the steaks, Station Casinos suggested that meals in the future would taste better if the employees voted against the union during the 2019 vote. Interestingly, the employees did decide to oppose the union by a vote of 627 to 534.
Recognition and Negotiation Required
Earlier this week, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) compelled Station Casinos and parent company Red Rock Resorts to acknowledge and negotiate with the Culinary Union.
The NLRB asserted that management had engaged in "grievous and widespread unlawful conduct" before the union vote. The federal panel also stated that Station Casinos' actions were part of a meticulously planned corporate strategy designed to interfere with employees' decision to choose the union as their collective bargaining representative.
In response to the ruling, Culinary Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge stated, "It affirms what we have been saying for years — that Station Casinos violated the law, and the company must bargain with the union because of its unlawful actions that corrupted the prospect for a free and fair union election."
Fair Vote, According to Management
Red Rock Resorts spokesman Michael Britt said the 2019 workers' vote "was a fair outcome that mirrored the desires of a majority of the Red Rock Team Members then and mirrors it now," according to the Las Vegas Independent.
The NLRB’s decision "upheld the findings of its own NLRB hearing officer," and wasn’t unexpected, Britt added. The company is likely to file an appeal.
The controversy surrounds three gaming properties, including Red Rock Resort, Palace Station, and Boulder Station.
Desire for Decertification
More than half of the roughly 600 unionized workers at Sunset Station Hotel and Casino reportedly stated in April that they wished to withdraw the Culinary Union as their labor representative.
The employees were in the process of signing a decertification petition, according to Station Casinos. Decertification petitions were previously signed in 2020 by a majority of workers at Boulder Station and Palace Station.
The Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 represent around 60K workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including guest room attendants, cocktail and food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks, bartenders, and laundry and kitchen workers.
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