UNION BUSSING
Vegas’ Culinary Union pressures Strip properties to cater to its Democratic members during caucuses
BY GEORGE HARRIS

Nevada is in the political crosshairs this month, as most candidates from both mainstream parties invade our borders, occupy our lives, pitch us rhetoric and lies, and then leave after seizing what he (or she) wants on Jan. 19. Is there anything more American? Perhaps we should consult organized labor for an answer. 

While most Nevadans participating in the caucuses will be taking care of business in their neighborhood precinct venues, a percentage of culinary union members will be at work on the Strip. So in order to ensure that as many Las Vegans participate in the caucuses as possible, nine Strip properties have set up “at-large” caucus sites. But is that really the case?

All nine properties — Wynn, Rio, Caesars Palace, Paris, Flamingo, The Mirage, New York-New York, Bellagio and Luxor — are owned by three gaming entities, Harrah’s, MGM Mirage and Steve Wynn. All are union-represented.

Sources inside the gaming giants have made it clear that Las Vegas’ Culinary Union Local 226 has pulled out the caucus pressure cooker to allow as many union workers as possible to attend the at-large events. Not only have union bosses strong-armed a deal to secure space inside nine hotel-casinos, they’ve also stipulated who can attend — Democratic culinary workers only.

Other details include two unpaid hours away from work over the busy three-day weekend, culinary-provided bus transportation (surely to bear culinary-sponsored propaganda for culinary-endorsed Barack Obama), and box lunches since the hotels are required to feed employees for so many hours worked.

And let's not forget legal matters. The nine sites prompted a group of individuals and the teachers union to file a Hillary Clinton-inspired lawsuit against the Nevada Democratic Party. The lawsuits argue that the at-large precincts are unfair because non-Strip workers do not get the same consideration. Those on the clock elsewhere around town, belonging to organizations that did not endorse Obama, won't have caucus sites setup near their workplaces. So as non-culinary workers struggle for time off work to support, say Dennis Kucinich, culinary workers will be herded like the sheep they are to perform the union's political business. (While Clinton is not directly involved in the lawsuit, many of her supporters have connections to the parties that are.)

Meanwhile, the union is treating its Republican dues-paying members like homeless vagrants at a stoplight. Transportation and a convenient location are not provided. Rather, they will have to figure out where their specific precinct caucus venue is located on their own. (Fortunately, Republicans will be back on the clock sooner as their caucus is anticipated to take only 30 minutes, whereas Democrats provide a more complicated and disorganized process, expected to consume up to two hours.)

For a state perceived to be so independent, Nevada is heavily unionized. And when it comes to contracts and politics, the SEIU and Culinary unions aren’t shy to use strong-arm political tactics to accomplish a goal. It’s an unfortunate but all-too common American practice. Just look at what the culinary folks are doing to the Tropicana. 

In the Jan. 9 Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nevada’s largest newspaper, the union purchased a full-page ad demonizing the Tropicana for putting “Nevada’s reputation on the line.” Perhaps the ad has something to do with the south Strip property not reaching a collective bargaining agreement with the union. The ad identifies government gaming commissions in New Jersey (for revoking the parent company’s license) and in Indiana (for investigating the owner). Missouri’s gaming commission even let the owner withdraw “things turned up in the investigation that did not comport with law-abiding behavior,” as editorialized by the Kansas City Star. In conclusion, “Nevada’s Gaming Commission must protect Nevada’s families and customers.”

Groupthink occurs when a collective body makes faulty decisions due to a deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing and moral judgment. Those affected by groupthink ignore alternatives and tend to take irrational actions that dehumanize other groups. Someone is especially vulnerable to groupthink when its members are similar in background, when the group is insulated from outside opinions, and when there are no clear rules for decision-making.

The culinary union does this time and time again and, somehow, the zombie-like nature of its members makes the approach successful. The New York Times even noticed in a Jan. 10 piece. 

“After praising the other Democrats for fighting for ‘the Las Vegas dream,’ D. Taylor, the secretary and treasurer of the union and its public face, gave the nod to Senator Obama. ‘He is one of us,’ he said. ‘He was an organizer. We organize workers, he organized workers and families,’ he said, before announcing Mr. Obama’s name to screams and foot stomps.”

Taylor could have said Bill Richardson and his audience would have responded the same way despite sources close to the New Mexico Governor announcing he’d be dropping out of the race.

Groupthink, aggressiveness, lies and ignorance. These are a few of America’s favorite things.

George Harris is publisher of Liberty Watch: The Magazine. He is also a political activist and successful Southern Nevadan businessman. Reach Harris at gopgeorge@embarqmail.com 
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