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In case you've missed our previous Headlines you can see them here:

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RIO Dealers

Vote July 12th!

VOTE YES!

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Way to GO RIO DEALERS!

Mirage dealers are behind you all the way!

Remember to vote YES!

Rio Rants forum......

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Remember this quote?

"If you don't like it - there's the door!"

http://www.spfpa.org/

Security, Police, Fire Professionals of America

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PETITION FOR UNION REPRESENTATION ELECTION FILED BY THE TWU ON BEHALF OF THE RIO DEALERS!

That's Right! After receiving Authorization Cards from an overwhelming majority of the Dealers at the Rio a petition was filed with the NLRB Tuesday June 3rd, 2008 for a Union Representation Election!

Rio Rants forum......

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Union Busting at work!

Security Guards WERE ROBBED!
123 - 110
13 POINT DIFFERENCE
4 CHALLENGES STILL NOT OPENED
ON FRIDAY THE 13TH

SPFPA TO FILE OBJECTIONS
TO THE CONDUCT OF THE ELECTION
WITH AND AGAINST THE NLRB FOR NOT SEALING THE BALLOT BOX PROPERLY ON ALL SIDES WHEN THEY LEFT WITH IT FOR 5 HOURS DESPITE THE UNIONS OBJECTION TO DO SO!

WITH 125 BALLOTS CAST IN THE FIRST SESSION AT LEAST 5 BALLOTS WERE COMING OUT OF THE SIDES OF THE SEALED BOX!
THE UNION DEMANDED THAT THE BALLOTS BOX BE SEALED ON ALL SIDES AND THE NLRB OBJECTED!
DURING THE CLOSING SESSION THE NLRB AGENT MICHAEL J. JOHNSON NOW TAKES THE OPEN BALLOT BOX AND UNMARKED BALLOTS TO THE BATHROOM BY HIMSELF FOR FIVE MINUTES THEN RETURNS!

YOU CONCLUDE WHAT COULD OF HAPPENED IN THE BATHROOM DURING THESE FIVE MINUTES AND DURING THE 5 HOURS WITH A IMPROPERLY UNSEALED BALLOT BOX WHERE BALLOTS COULD EASILY COME OUT FROM THE SIDES OF THE BOX!

IS THIS WHAT YOU CALL A SECRET BALLOT ELECTION?

THE SPFPA AND THE CASINO SECURITY PROFESSIONALS WORKING FOR MANDALAY BAY ARE DEMANDING A RE-RUN FAIR ELECTION WITH SAFEGUARDS TO BE PUT IN PLACE!

WE HOPE MANDALAY MANAGEMENT WILL NOT OBJECT TO A FAIR ELECTION Since There attorney and 2 observers Witnessed the UNSEALED BALLOT BOX and SPFPA'S Demand to seal it.

As well as the observers reports of the 5 minute bathroom ordeal!
The SPFPA is not implying that the NLRB or Michael J. Johnson of switching any of the ballots during the 5 hours when this ballot box was in his sole possession and when he left with the unsealed ballot box and blank ballots to the bathroom for 5 minutes we are only implying that the above actions by Michael J. Johnson of NOT properly sealing the ballot box and leaving with the unsealed ballot box and blank ballots to the bathroom for 5 minutes raises many unanswered questions on the conduct of a FAIR ELECTION!

Mandalay Bay guards vote against union
Organizer vows to object, citing agent’s bathroom break

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/jun/17/mandalay-bay-guards-vote-against-union/
 

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More from the Rio Dealers.......(read the R-J article here.)

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CityCenter Workers Back At Work

Posted: June 3, 2008 03:28 PM PDT

The safety strike at project CityCenter has ended.

THAT was fast!

Thanks to the unity of the construction workers and their Union leaders, and the desperation of MGM-Mirage to get CityCenter built, safety will be a new priority!

Full article....

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Breaking News:

CityCenter Workers Walked Off The Job At Midnight

Posted: June 2, 2008 09:33 PM PDT

How many workers have to die before they take action?

At midnight, workers at CityCenter walked off the job over safety concerns. The union representing workers wants MGM Mirage and the general contractor ........more

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MGM-Mirage and Dubai

What in the HELL are we involved in??

Read all about it here.......

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What the heck is Weingarten?

 

Unheard of to most of us workers who have never belonged to a union. Weingarten Rights are the right of a union member to have a Union Shop Steward present at any meeting called by management that may result in discipline to the employee. (For Union members only)

BOY! Do we need that!

Read more about a union member's rights at the SPFPA (Security, Fire, Police Professionals of America) website.....

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DEALERS....

Since the Mirage isn't having an Annual Summer Festival for it's employees anymore (instead you get a DISCOUNT on tickets to events!) The TWU is inviting us to a PICNIC! ~~~~~~~

YOU ARE INVITED TO:

THE

TWU LOCAL 721

FIRST ANNUAL-PICNIC

 WHEN: WEDNESDAY - MAY 21^ST

WHERE: SUNSET PARK (EASTERN AND SUNSET)

Area F (southern side, enter from Eastern Ave.)

TIME: NOON – 9:00 PM 

BRING YOUR FAMILY AND COME HAVE AN AFTERNOON OF HOT DOGS – HAMBURGERS- AND A "FRIENDLY" GAME OF SOFTBALL!!

TWU will be providing burgers, hot dogs, chips, drinks, ice, condiments, plates, napkins, eating utensils, and music. 

This is also a potluck, so if you have a special dish that you would like to share with your fellow Dealers, please bring it with you. 

Other amenities available at the park: playground, swimming pool, volleyball, basketball, frisbee, golf, tennis, and horseshoes.

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DEALERS....

We have received many requests for information on how to support our Teacher's Grass Roots efforts on making the Casinos in the State of Nevada pay their fair share in Gaming Tax, which in turn, would support our teachers and students.

The Webmasters of this site believe that if Gaming can pay 40% Gaming Tax in Macau, China... then they certainly should be paying more than the 6.75% they pay in the State of Nevada.

 

If you would like to volunteer to help the teachers in the State of Nevada by circulating petitions, or finding locations where you can sign these petitions, we have found contacts for you.

 

LOCAL CCEA TEACHER UNION CONTACT: JAHDEL AT 702-733-3063 and NATIONAL NSEA -1-800-248-6732.

Petitions can be sent directly to your home , but after acquiring signatures, they must be notarized.

Please contact JAHDEL for more information.

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A Response to Lanni's Latest Letter

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"I must say I was truly shocked at his pandering to his employees to save his company from a possible raise in gaming revenue tax.

After Reading my letter two things stood out. A 44% increase was mentioned twice but curiously what was not mentioned was 44% of what? MGM MIRAGE employee's would like to know. 

10% or maybe 9.25% which is what Atlantic city casinos have been managing to pay for years. 

Maybe it is 24% which is what MGM MIRAGE Detroit casinos are paying.

Our personal favorite is Macau, where casinos are taxed at 40% of their gaming revenue?

Mississippi casinos pay a whopping 24% in gaming tax.... how DO they stay in business??

Here in Las Vegas where most of our State Legislatures are on a secret gaming payroll (drum roll please......)

Casino gaming tax in Nevada is a paltry 6.75%.which has not been raised in 20 years.

Mr. Lanni did mention teachers and what we would be getting for his money.

What he did not mention is there are two petitions. One for teacher raises. The second is for new equipment chairs, books, computers, supplies.

Mr. Lanni; the citizens of the great state of Nevada have decided to bypass our politically corrupt system and take this issue directly to the voters of the state.

My property taxes have been raised numerous time in the last 20 years. Sales tax has also been raised quite a few times in the last 20 years. The State of Nevada's budget is a mess. We have no money for schools, roads, and public services.

The time has come for gaming to step up to the plate and pay their fair share of the enormous profits gaming companies have been enjoying for years. It is time to give some back to your community Mr. Lanni.

On a personal note, until I received your letter I would have just signed the petition at my local grocery store. Now I will search out these petitions to make sure others have the opportunity to sign them.

We will also be contacting the TWU for their support, after all, they now have over 700 members, soon to be in the thousands. 

Mr. Lanni's letter infuriated this dealer so much, I might consider volunteering to get signatures on the petitions.

On a side note to Mr. Lanni I will encourage others to call your bluff should you start with the old tried and true method of telling voters it will become too expensive for MGM MIRAGE to do business in the state of Nevada. Then Mr. Lanni, you should pack up your slots and table games and your 3 new beautiful condos and move them to where you can get a more favorable tax rate. We are not sure where that would be considering the state of Nevada has the lowest gaming tax in the nation."

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Flaming Feedbacks

The Webmaster will not be posting any flaming feedbacks.

If you have something nasty and negative to say about our Union Drive, post it someplace else. There's a nice new Bulletin Board at local721.TWU.org. Post it there.

We've committed ourselves to the TWU and if you can't support us, you're part of the problem and not part of a solution.

If you send a flaming feedback attacking Mirage dealers or In House Organizers (IHOs) berating them for any lack of action they may not have taken, you will be ignored.

If you see no response, it's not from a lack of words or apathy, it's because our energy is better spent in a positive way, and not trying to defend ourselves against the very people supposed to be on our side.

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TIP EARNERS OF NEVADA
TIP EARNERS OF NEVADA
Clear Your Schedules!!!
The Baldonado/Cesarz (Wynn Dealers) vs Wynn appeal will be heard in front of the Nevada Supreme Court on Monday April 7, 2008.  If you are a tip earner, this affects you!!!  We want the Nevada court system to enforce the law and stop billion dollar casino operators from taking our tips to pay their management and protect all of Nevada’s tip earners from having their tips confiscated now or in the future.  This is your livelihoods and futures on the line!
PROTECT YOUR TIPS!We will be peacefully demonstrating our opposition to tip confiscation in front of the Regional Justice Center building on the day of the hearing.  If you wish to participate, just show up between 9:30AM and 11:30AM.  THE MORE THE MERRIER!!!  There will be picket signs provided at the location. 
Location: 
Clark County Regional Justice Center
200 Lewis Ave
Las Vegas, Nevada 89101
Parking is available at various locations downtown.
Time and Date: 
April 7, 2008 From 9:30AM to 12:30PM

You can always go to www.TWULocal721.org for more information on the Union or Tip situation as it arises.
Attached is a copy of the picket flyers.  If anyone wants to print and pass them out, please do so.  If you open and print out the PDF file that is attached, you will see 2 flyers per page.  You will need Adobe Reader to open the PDF file.  It is available at www.adobe.com for free.  Forward this to anyone you know who is a tip earner.  Also, if you plan on showing up, please send ONE e-mail to wynnemployee@yahoo.com so we can get an approximate headcount.  Thanks Everyone.

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There is some misperception about "Status Quo" and what it means.

First off, you are in "status quo" right now, without a Union. Yup. However, the "status quo" can be changed at any given moment. As an example:
Today, you pool your tokes with the Dealers only. That is the "status quo" for today.
Tomorrow, management decides to take your tokes for redistribution. That will be the "status quo" tomorrow.
Now, when you VOTE THE UNION IN, you "lock in" the "status quo" that day. The key here is that it is LOCKED IN. From that point on EVERYTHING must stay the same as far as your working conditions and such goes. The ONLY way anything can change is IF you Dealers, as the Union, agree to the changes. They can NOT come down with a memo stating something like, "From now on every Dealer will be paid 1/2 of what they were being paid prior to this memo." That would be a violation of Federal Law BECAUSE you have voted the Union in.
So, let's say you have voted the Union in and you have locked in "status quo". Well it is time for open enrollment for your health insurance, and the premiums are going up again and the coverage is dropping from what you had the day you voted the Union in. Well guess what? Those changes will NOT affect you or any other member of the newly formed bargaining unit BECAUSE you have locked in "status quo". However, if the premiums are going to be lower and the coverage is going to be better, the dealers in the bargaining unit MAY approve of the changes and accept the better benefit package.
How can you lose by locking in "status quo"? You can't. The only thing you will do is gain. You may however negotiate away things, but that will be up to the bargaining unit to determine that by either ratifying (approving) the proposed agreement with the changes made in it.
Do you like the way things are today? Some of the things? Can you live with what you have today? Would you like to protect what you now have? If you answered "yes" to ANY of these questions, then vote for the Union to lock in "status quo" and the bleeding will stop.
Think of it like this, having locked in "status quo" is nearly the same as having a contract. That's right, because NOTHING can change without the bargaining unit's approval.
How long can "status quo" be locked in? As long as both sides are negotiating in good faith, it can last forever. Granted, you may not see any gains while in "status quo", but you definitely will so no losses.
Have things been getting better or worse each year? Insurance premiums? 401(k)? Have you been getting regular raises? Is everyone treated equally?
Yes, locking in "status quo" may also lock in things that are not so good, such as at The Wynn. They locked in toke redistribution. That fight is far from over though. But, that was what the "status quo" was when they voted the Union in.
Realize that if Steve-O wins the court battles and it is found that the casinos can take your tokes for redistribution, I don't care what ANY letter says, they can take your tokes as soon as the gavel drops and be secure knowing that the courts will uphold it.
Also realize, the casino has to give a ten day notice to their employees of any major working condition changes. So, they may say something like, "To be fair to all frontline employees, and in light of the recent court rulings, starting 10 days from now we will be collecting all tokes from all non-union employees for what we believe is a fair distribution."
Do NOT think that you have 10 days to vote the Union in, because that is NOT the case. The Union MUST first petition the NLRB for a secret ballot election. Once the petition is filed, the election must be held within 44 days (34 days beyond the 10 day notification given the employees by management). So, even if you have the petition filed the day after the company gave notification that they were going to implement a new toke redistribution system, you would NOT be able to stop them.
You see, the Law allows the company to make any changes they have "planned and announced", even after a petition has been filed. Now if they didn't make their announcement PRIOR to the petition being filed, it could be argued they are making the change to "punish" the workers for filing and the change would probably not hold up. Besides, if they tried that, they know it would mean that they would most definitely lose the election.
In the case of Caesars Palace, they tried to give us back things before our election. They tried to sway the vote that way. The ONLY thing it did was improve what we locked in with "status quo" on election day. One thing they tried to do to persuade us was to raise the amount a customer could bet for the Dealers. It was a significant raise too. Prior to this change a customer could only bet $25 straight up for us on roulette. The change they made raised it to $200 straight up. That took it from $875 to $7000 which we could take down from a straight up bet. Then IF we had voted "no" to the Union, the next day they could have dropped it back to the way it was. But, because we won our election we locked in the new betting limits under "status quo"
Some may say, "If we vote the union in they can place signs on the table stating there will be no tips allowed." W-R-O-N-G!!!!!!!!!! You see, the ONLY way they can do that is IF they did it BEFORE the election was won. IF they tried that they would know they would lose the election, so they would not do that. And, because once you vote the Union in, they CAN NOT make ANY "unilateral changes" to your working conditions, and placing a sign on the tables saying no tips will be allowed IS a unilateral change in working conditions, therefore violates Federal Law.
Well, I hope I have explained what "status quo" is. They will try to tell you, "You have status quo already". Which is true. Status quo is what the current working conditions are at any given time. But remember, once you vote the Union in, you will "LOCK IN STATUS QUO" and no unilateral changes can be made, period.
If you have ANY questions about "status quo", please post them here and I will provide you with the TRUTH. Do NOT listen to the lies of management. If we were to lie here, that would constitute a violation of Law, and there is no way we will risk having any election turned over for such a stupid reason. You will find no lies here. Nothing but the TRUTH will be posted by any Moderator. IF another poster posts something which is not true, we will be quick to correct it.
Now, go sign a card and send it in. You have NOTHING to lose. If you do not, you can lose everything because you have not locked in "status quo".

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Attention DEALERS....

...it has come to the attention of the webmasters of this site that many dealers do not know what the Status Quo is...

Uninformed dealers, as well as management, have been telling dealers if we vote in the TWU, we will lose our benefits and 401Ks.

This is not true!

Once we vote in the TWU, by law, everything must remain the same until we have negotiated our contract, which is called the STATUS QUO.

The Wynn dealers still have all of the benefits they had before voting in the Union and it will remain this way until they negotiate a contract.

The Caesar's dealers also still have all of the benefits they had before their union vote. The only difference between Caesars and the Wynn is that Caesars dealers cannot have their tokes taken by management because they have locked in the STATUS QUO.

At the present time Caesars Dealers are the only Dealers who have protected their tokes by voting in the union! They voted in the Union BEFORE Harrahs could take their tokes! The Wynn Dealers voted in the Union AFTER Steve took their tokes!

No changes can be made to working conditions until the dealers have negotiated a Collective Bargaining Agreement. (Please see NLRB | Workplace Rights | NLRA Violations )

Dealers, we are sure Mr. Wynn would love to take away his dealer's benefits, including his contribution to their 401K plans...but it is against the law!

Send in your cards today!

It is our RIGHT to have representation!

UNITED WE BARGAIN DIVIDED WE BEG!

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A NEW Dealer's Forum to spread the word and ask questions!

You'll have to register if you want to ask questions or leave comments.

Be sure to look for the Mirage Forum!

Local 721 Forum

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See the

UPDATE to Wages

(Woo-hoo!)

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So....things just don't feel right.

You're feeling nervous about your job security.

Somebody at work has asked if you've signed a card for the Union.

You KNOW they aren't supposed to ask you about that!

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Protect your Floor people with silence.

- Update -

Dealers....your Floor people have become unwilling tools for Management.

We ask that you keep your Floor people out of our Union business.

They will be used by Management to be informants on our Union progress.

This is not a fight with our Floor people (they are middle management), this is a fight with Corporate Management.

Stay tuned for Union Buster News.....

Remember...if you ARE put into an uncomfortable position with Management or a Supervisor and pressured for any information on our Union...print an Incident Report:

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Mirage Dealers....

what are you worth???

This is what the MGM-Mirage thinks we are worth!

Please read our Issues on Wages...

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No one at The Wynn or Caesars Palace has been fired for being an organizer or supporter. The cards are confidential, I can assure you of that! Don't be scared! Stand up for yourselves and protect your money, your job, let seniority count for something and HOW ABOUT A PAY RAISE! The cocktail waitress makes twice as much as you and think of all the calculations you make and money you handle! When is the last time our corporations voluntarily gave us anything??? Truly think about these things! Aren't you worth more than 6 or 7 dollars an hour???
Sign your cards! You already have 1200 brothers and sisters with you!

UNITED WE STAND - DIVIDED WE BEG!

PRINT THIS OUT AND SHOW IT TO PEOPLE AT WORK---NETWORK-- AND HURRY! TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE TO PROTECT YOUR MONEY!!!

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An Editorial in the

NEW YORK TIMES:

"There is little doubt that American workers need unions. Wages today are almost 10 percent lower than they were in 1973, after accounting for inflation. The share of national income devoted to workers’ wages and benefits is at its lowest since the late-1960s, while the share going to profits has surged. The decline in unionization has been a big part of the reason that workers have lost so much ground. "

"There is one sliver of good news: the percentage of American workers who belong to a union rose for the first time in three decades."

"Employers have become more aggressive about keeping unions out."

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Mandalay Bay Propaganda

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MIRAGE FOR SALE AGAIN??

The dealers at the Mirage were lucky 6 years ago when the MGM purchased our company.

We say “lucky” because only about 20 or so dealers were told they were not MGM material. 

Can we be so lucky again? We can all see how our company has changed over the last 6 years. All new hires now must come in as part time. Why? Do we have any assurances that if we are sold a new corporation will not come in and say, start trimming cost's in table games? 

Can they terminate us? YES they can.

Can they make us part time? Yes they can.

Can they make our benefits worse then they already are? YES they can.

Can they take our tokes? YES, right at this time they can.

Can they take our toke bylaws away from us like they did at Caesars? YES they can. 

If the dealers of the Mirage vote on a Collective Bargaining Agreement that includes a Successorship Clause, we WILL be protected in the event of a sale.

Sleep easier dealers……send in your TWU cards and vote YES for your future.

 We need representation.

Organizing a Union is our right.

It is Federal Law.

This is the first step in the process:

Fill out a TWU Authorization card
for the chance to be part of the Mirage Dealer's Union!
Understand that signing this card simply tells the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that we want to vote for a
Union.

PRINT the TWU Authorization Card.
SIGN it.
MAIL it to the address on the card.

After we vote to be represented by the TWU (Transport Workers Union of America),
the TWU and the Mirage Dealer's Committee negotiates all changes in our benefits between the Mirage Dealers and Mirage Management.

The TWU doesn't decide what we do....WE decide what we want to do.
The TWU becomes our collective voice!
You are no longer alone when you're discriminated against and when no one will listen to you!
We are no longer helpless when the Corporation makes demands on us arbitrarily.

Complete your authorization card and mail it to:

Transport Workers Union Of America
Las Vegas Dealers Local 721
2770 S. Maryland Parkway, Suite 510
Las Vegas, NV 89109

(702)476-0648