The Winds of Change

Is it the flapping of butterfly wings?
Is it the fury of a hurricane?

Could the former in Atlantic City cause the latter in Las Vegas?

Either way it does appear that there have been not so sublte atmospheric changes in the world of casino dealers.

From the East Coast comes word that the dealers at Caesars Atlantic City have overwhelmingly voted for Union representation. With a vote of 572-128 the dealers have sent the message to Harrah's (or whomever it is that owns the gigantic company now) that they aren't going to take it lying down anymore. Of course Harrah's plans to file an objection to the vote.
The next scheduled vote is at Trump Plaza on March 31st. Will the dealers there follow suit? It's highly likely.

It remains to be seen if Las Vegas dealers, a continent away, will finally demand at least a little respect by being able to keep what has been given to them (their own tips) or in a best case scenario a larger piece of the multi-billion dollar pie. The casinos post record profits year after year but the front line dealers get a raise only because the law requires it via a minimum wage increase.

If this sea change does move the Las Vegas dealers to organize it will be because of actions such as the Wynn power play.

The tangled web gets more tangled at every turn. While the Labor Commissioner is presumably tasked with protecting the LABORER, ours may or may NOT be up to that task.

At least one politician in Nevada has the (balls) backbone to stand up to the (tyrant) casino mogul.

It's reported that Assemblyman Bob Beers stated:
"WHAT STEVE WYNN IS DOING IS ILLEGAL." Bob Beers

Mr. Beers has submitted draft request 1166 which attempts to clarify a law that should already be crystal clear.

EVERY dealer in town needs to support this draft by contacting the appropriate politicians.

This isn't simply about Wynn dealers. It's about all of us. The sooner every dealer in town realizes this the better.


*****It amazes me how my views on labor and organization have changed in three+ short years. After a lifetime of anti-union beliefs (and the bulk of my working life as "management")followed by a few years working "in the trenches" I'm certainly more receptive to the possibility that Unions have a place in the 21st century.*****