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>>> Register and post on the forum for Dealers here! <<< >>> Submit your feedback/questions to this website here <<< #81 Dealer Follow-up to #80 I work at Harrah's Reno and we did get a 30 minute lunch break before we went to hour twenties. We started lunches 3 hours into the shift and therefore had to work more than an hour one time during the shift, anywhere from an hour ten to an hour and a half depending on where your break fell. I have also heard about the Atlantis swiping out for their lunches from someone whose spouse is employed there. It is no joke. Thank You for the follow-up. Wow, this is another example of anything to save another buck on our backs. Unpaid breaks are also something that a TWU can prevent, but you must first vote for their representation. If this system were combined with hour-twenties, Dealers could spend as much as two hours on their game before a break! How much are Union dues? They are less than the amount that Dealers lose by being forced to swipe out for their breaks! If you would like to know more about TWU, you may contact them at (702)476-0648. You may also communicate with Union members and Union hopefuls at www.lvdealers.com
#80 The Atlantis in Reno is now making their dealers swipe out for their lunch breaks. I guess the only thing keeping Harrah's from doing this is the fact that we no longer get a 30 minute lunch break with the advent of hour twenties. A 30-minute break? It sounds like a difficult system to manage, because dealer breaks are all traditionally 20 minutes. We have been attempting to confirm this report without contacting the Atlantis pit directly. Although Lake Tahoe Dealers never had a regular 30-minute break, hour-twenties do save the company money by providing us with fewer paid 20-minute breaks. There are not many people here who would doubt that they are trying to find a way to cut back further on all labor expenses. Here is another example of how they make Lake Tahoe casino employees work harder than Las Vegas. Traditionally, Las Vegas Supervisors get three half-hour breaks in their shift. Ours get only two breaks, but one is ten minutes longer. It saves the company twenty minutes of paid break time per day per supervisor. Hour-twenties, on paper, take away 24 minutes of paid break time per dealer per shift. It results in more fatigued Dealers who lack the "upbeat and positive attitude" that management requests. As a matter of fact, our "Spotlights" now have a lower standard than the rest of the company. Our maximum score is "90" whereas Dealers from other properties must get a "150" for a perfect score.
#79 Dealer Feedback I read from your "Latest" page: "The process itself
has been biased toward Management's whim. If this system were truly 50%
merit and 50% seniority, it would have drastically different
parameters." The people who determine "merit" are the same people who determine nearly everything else about our jobs. It is done by Management who is far from being an independent agency. These days, Management is handing out "merit badges." They are in the form of the same button that Management wears. A funny thing about their "merit badges" is that our committee members have spotted "merit badge" Dealers discreetly taking pro-Union literature with them, and not to the trash. Actions do speak louder than buttons.
#78 Dealer Feedback
First off, this is not to be a negative posting. I do not care
for unions (maybe it was my upbringing?), however, I am for opening
Harrah's and the new owners' eyes with this union drive and shake
up. That being said, and this has probably been answered before,
with Nevada being a right-to-work state, if the contract is voted in
and it comes time for dealers to decide whether to join/pay dues or
not, if someone chooses not to join/pay dues, do they receive the
same contract coverage as those that join/pay dues? I understand the
whole strength-in-numbers thing, and that the union is the dealers.
And yet, it would appear that for those that don't want to join, yet
get some job protection, it would be to their benefit to vote in the
contract, then not pay dues.
I know this sounds very selfish, yet it's important to make sure all bases are understood to make a sound decision since the paperwork is being passed out around the properties now. Thanks for dropping by!
It is
nice that, even though you do not now care for Unions, you are
willing to open your eyes to the possibilities a Union will bring to
all of us. Please understand that this is not about "opening
the new owners' eyes." Nothing will permanently change if we
do not follow through. The new owners are restructuring to
sell soon and will show little concern for anybody in Tahoe (read
more about the new owners here). This is about providing
ourselves with rights that we have never experienced.
Now on to your questions:
...if
the contract is voted in and it comes time for dealers to decide
whether to join/pay dues or not, if someone chooses not to join/pay
dues, do they receive the same contract coverage as those that
join/pay dues?
The answer is yes. They will receive what is outlined in the CBA (collective bargaining agreement). All employees who are eligible as the "bargaining unit" will receive whatever is bargained for, wether or not they join the Union or pay dues.
...it
would be to their benefit to vote in the contract, then not pay
dues.
Not true. You see dues will pay for things such as the Local office and the office Officials and workers. Dues will also pay for the attorneys who will assist with any legal issues and also bargain alongside the Dealers in future contract negotiations. Dues will also pay for the administrative areas of the union, such as office machines, mail-outs, newsletters, buttons, pins, paper, furniture etc... Now, if nobody pays dues, then the Local will have none of these things and will not be able to function. If the Local can not function, then how can we do such things as file grievances if the employer violates the contract agreements?
Also,
if a Dealer does not join the Union or does not pay dues, that
Dealer will not be eligible to run for any Union position nor will
they be able to participate in any voting procedures. They
will have no say in anything. Another thing which Unions do
are things like offer College Scholarships to the children of Union
members. But, if someone is not paying dues they will not be
eligible. Another thing they would not be eligible for would
be any future pension or insurance plans which the Local may offer
the members.
Let's
say the Union were to negotiate in the first contract a simple $1
per hour raise, reduce health insurance premiums by 10% and get a
fair seniority system in place. Financially, the members will
benefit around $200 per month. Even at the maximum of $50 per
month dues (which Tahoe's may be less than that), the member will
benefit an additional $150 per month. What will anyone lose if
they take advantage of the Union benefits and refuse to pay dues
because of anything other than a "hardship?" They will lose
face and friends. Those who are willingly paying their dues
will know exactly who is not paying dues and may not appreciate the
"greed" of their fellow employee. Remember, one of the main
reasons of this organizing campaign is "corporate greed," and to be
as greedy and self-serving as they are will not sit very well with
members, as it will help to bring down our efforts and place us back
at the mercy of the corporations.
There
is one other thing to consider. The TWU International is
willing to "foot the bill" while we are organizing. They
are spending 100's of thousands of dollars to give us a voice.
However, once we vote the Union in and get a contract signed, we
will be responsible for the financial aspect of running our own
Local and the money which came with organizing will no longer be
available to us. So, if the Local fails financially, we will
lose our Union and be right back where we started. To not pay
dues is self-destructive, all because someone wants to have their
cake and eat it too and does not want to pay dues out of pure greed.
#77 Lake Tahoe Dealer Questions A co-worker of mine is considering supporting our
organized labor drive BUT- SHE DOES have questions. Sorry for all 10 at
once but she is trying very hard to make an informed decision. Thanks so
much for your time. Thank you for your questions. They are answered below, one at a time. 1. how can I be assured that the union can protect our tips? since wynn has set a precedent? Once we have enough cards and petition for a vote, we lock in our current situation, also called "Status Quo." TPG/Apollo (Harrah's/Harveys new owners) can change nothing about our wages and working conditions, and that includes tips and retirement. It is not Wynn's precedent that is the concern here. It is the Nevada Supreme Court's precedent which is the concern. There is one good precedent to consider: Caesars Palace Dealers. They did not "wait and see" what TPG/Apollo would do to their livelihoods. Their tips cannot be seized because they are Union Dealers. 2. who would take the time to organize & figure out what we want? We do, in conjunction with TWU. We elect our own Bargaining Committee from within our ranks. There are Dealers who are at the table representing us. Also, we are polled about our needs and priorities for our Contract. Click here to see what the Caesars Palace Dealers online survey looks like. 3. who would organize the vote (on the toke committee its a lot of work to have a vote) The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) oversees the vote. Management cannot come near the room. 4. what's so bad about what we have: I noted: hour twentys, seizing our tips, ranking If you like your work situation, that is all the reason more to vote in our Union: lock in the Status Quo and protect what you have. Secondly, it is a means to attempt to get back some of what we lost. If you need a longer list of examples, click here or on the "Issues" tab on the front page. 5. what can the union guarantee about layoffs If company business slows and shifts get cut, that cannot be helped. However, Union Contracts commonly have clauses which address this, and include:
Hour-Twenty: Our Union will have a legitimate say in getting back the shifts that we lost by working hour-twenties. By going back to "hours," there will be 6.67% more shifts available for us, reducing the risk of layoffs. 6. could a union have
done anything about losing half of our 401k since that a corporate wide
move? Yes, our Union could have stopped it. Simply locking in "Status Quo" eliminates the new owners' dictatorship over us. Our Union gives us defenses that we have never had. Management tends to omit that fact. 7. is Apr 7th the day the case starts or the day the decision is made? The case is heard on April 7. The decision will be made anytime after that. The decision is made whenever it happens to be made, starting on April 8. 8. can the union prevent a lay off. Please pardon webmaster laziness. This response is the same as the one from question #5: If company business slows and shifts get cut, that cannot be helped. However, Union Contracts commonly have clauses which address this, and include:
Hour-Twenty: Our Union will have a legitimate say in getting back the shifts that we lost by working hour-twenties. By going back to "hours," there will be 6.67% more shifts available for us, reducing the risk of layoffs. 9. is this union a good union Our Union is as good as we are. We are the ones who are calling the shots. TWU represents Caesars Palace Dealers and Wynn Dealers. Being "at the same table" as Caesars Palace Dealers brings us much more leverage than seeking out other representation. Do you want to know one more reason why we see all of the corporation's "wait and see" slogans? Caesars Palace Dealers are stronger with other Harrah's Dealers alongside them. Caesars Palace Dealers will have a better Contract with us, and we will have a better Contract with them. There is strength in numbers. TWU is currently organizing Paris Dealers, and TWU is collecting cards from every TPG/Apollo property in Las Vegas. TWU is in the AFL-CIO, which has ten million (10,000,000) members. TWU itself represents 130,000 while Harrah's employs far fewer at 85,000. If the question is about TWU, it has one of the cleanest records out there. TWU has never had a Federal indictment against them (only one of four Unions). If you want to see more of the sort of distortions that the corporation will feed you, >> CLICK HERE << Remember that Union bashing is all a sideshow, and if we have nothing to gain from our Union, the corporation would not be fighting this at all. There would be no meetings, no buttons, and no concern from the corporation whatsoever. To answer your question: YES! 10. how much is the union monthly? (gee a lot less then 20% of our tips!) $50 per month are the maximum dues. For most Dealers, it will be less than that. Part-Time Dealers are pro-rated. Not one penny is due until after we approve of our Contract with a vote. TWU has collected $0.00 from Wynn Dealers and Caesars Palace Dealers. All of the time after we petition through when we get our Contract is FREE Union membership for us. To repeat, we do not pay dues until we know what will be in our Contract and VOTE on it. TWU is a nonprofit organization, and your dues are tax-deductible. Just a simple 35¢/hour raise covers the maximum dues. Plus, Nevada is a right-to-work state and Union dues are optional! If TPG/Apollo replaces you with less experienced help, you will not have to worry about what your dues would have been. Do you see why the corporation is fighting this?
#76 Lake Tahoe Dealer Feedback After 4 years of Hour-Twenties, why do people still believe "it won't happen here in Tahoe". When TPG orders our VP of Casino Operations to take our tips, along with all the other non union casino's in Nevada, I wonder if all the people wearing the NO TWU buttons will still be BFF ?
#75 From an MGM/Mirage Dealer The new look of your website is absolutely fabulous!
Although the first one was an inspiration for the Mirage and Mandalay
Bay Dealers websites! Thank you for the compliment. By "the company's hands," in Harrah's case, it is a private equity company who will be dropping us in a few years. We are not in good hands. I wonder why Harrahs hasn't pulled that crap in Las Vegas?? You left out the word "yet." They already pulled it where the company started, Harrah's Reno.
#74 Caesars Palace Dealer Feedback BRAVO!!!!!!! Caesars Palace Dealers are the only ones in Nevada that have stood up and protected themselves against TPG's restructuring plans. If TPG and private equity investors have their way, the USA will move closer toward a third-world economy. We must stand up and fight for the middle class ourselves. Fighting for our own rights against corporate tyranny is an outstanding way to honor our Troops. For those unfamiliar, "Rumplestiltskin" helped lead the Dealers charge to their Caesars Palace Union victory. Our Union will be stronger if we do not "wait and see" and join them at the bargaining table. There is, however, one statement with which some here would disagree, "there are far more beautiful places than Tahoe"
#73 Lake Tahoe Dealer Feedback Major kudos to the webmaster(s) of this site. Not
like the old one was bad- but this freshened up version is simply a
"tour de force". Remember: your cards are CONFIDENTIAL. MANY cards have arrived already, and NOTHING has happened to the Dealers who sent in their cards!
#72 Reno Harrah's Dealer Feedback I work at Harrah's in Reno and we also work hour twenties. Believe me, we feel your pain. We are the only Casino in Reno who is forced to do this. We were once the only Dealers in the state forced to do this. Unfortunately, hour-twenties are slowly spreading. This policy could have been prevented with a Union. Their next cost-cutting policy can be prevented with a Union instead of being forced on us. By the way, have you "made the call" and started sending in cards yet?
#71 Dealer Feedback Just wondering... Has everyone given up??? There hasn't been anything new or exciting in ages. A little embarrassing considering Vegas seems to be going full steam ahead. Come on Tahoe, life as we know it is horrible. If I hear one more person say I should be grateful just to live in this paradise, I shall scream. It is not paradise when you are oppressed!!!!! Tahoe, stand up and fight! Curious about the webmiesters of this site...are you still around??? We have not given up. As you can see, the site underwent some necessary changes. IHO's are starting to hit the ground. It is not paradise when you are oppressed!!!!! Very true. TPG will show little concern for us, our benefits, or Tahoe. If we do not act, we will be casualties of their restructuring. Tahoe, too, will suffer. This fight is for us and our beloved Tahoe community. Company loyalties must be abandoned, as TPG is restructuring to sell again within a few years. Read more about TPG and private equity here.
#70 A sign of things to come! I work for the Harrah's call center in Minden,Nv. We were told today that the center will be closed and all calls will be handled by the L.V. office or in Texas. We will be done by mid May. Is this the "beginning"? Are our new owners flexing muscles and starting to restructure? I am sending in my card, I feel we need a rep. behind us,management will "relocate" us at min. wage. My kids need steady meals, cannot afford to move, and no jobs available as the globals are comming. HELP Starting to restructure? READ THIS!!! We have gotten word that Harrah's will now be hiring outside work with a longer ONE YEAR work visa. Can anybody confirm this? There is YET ANOTHER craps school this Spring, and they are constantly holding carnival game schools. WHY? It is a good opportunity for many, but Dealers who came out of the last craps school one year ago are still hardly getting time on dice games. Could all the schools have anything to do with the last layoffs? They could not open enough games because they laid off too many multi-game Dealers! NOBODY in management here will be able to stop the restructuring. NOBODY! There is only one road to empowerment. We did not see it coming last time. Management has guaranteed us NOTHING this time! The question is, Did we learn anything?
#69 Dealer Feedback (Not a Lake Tahoe Dealer) 80/20's are you fricking kidding me! Is it not bad enough that customers blow smoke in your face now management is blowing smoke up your keisters. For $2000 more a year you'll work an extra 20 minutes longer before you get a break.. by my calculations that's $76.92 a check... after taxes maybe you are getting an extra $25 a week....$5 more bucks a day. When will this madness end? After you vote the union in! Send your card in today before they come up with another way to help you out - like taking your tokes away to pay management!!! "Are you fricking kidding me"...That was our first reaction. They told us that it wouldn't be long before the rest of the casinos in Nevada would be doing it. Almost four years later, it's still a TAHOE ONLY policy. If you want to stop this policy from being forced on you, a Union can do it! We do not actually earn more per year. We don't quite "demonstrate an upbeat and positive attitude" as much, and it shows in our tips. Some people have reported a DROP in their W-2's since they started the policy! Not only do we work harder, but we have nothing to show for it. Even if we did get the $2000 that you write about, hour-twenties are simply not worth it, period. Harrah's has shown no remorse in working us hour-twenties. OF COURSE they will have no remorse in taking our tokes!
#68 Dealer Feedback On January 28th of this year, Gary Loveman took Harrah's Entertainment private & received a $94 MILLION dollar bonus. Not bad 'ol boy. And all the while we continue to work Hour-twenties, each year pay higher health insurance premiums (our most HIGHLY compensated employees (Group 1 managers & above) pay exactly zero), our 401-K continues to suffer a 50% cut in matching contributions & we still remain captive to the life threatening consequences of second-hand smoke. Yes Mr. Loveman, I know, just one more employee bitchin' about cigarettes & if I don't like it there's the door etc., etc. Yup, & I'll come back to that in a minute. But for now Mr. Loveman, do YOU smoke? Well, do you? Hmmm. Didn't think so. And do you have any idea what it is like to be stuck for hours on end in front of the burning end of a cigarette? Probably not. And after all the years spent attending M.I.T., is it possible that a curriculum which resulted in a Ph.D. in economics "just happened" to be void of any classes re: health related topics? Or is it that you just don't believe that second-hand smoke could possibly cause cancer? I would think that would be rather implausible in the year 2008 but hey- anything's possible. The tobacco companies held that position for years. Talk to 'em 'bout the effects of second-hand smoke & they'd laugh you out of the room. Well, they're not laughing now. And neither will Harrah's or any other casino operator when it loses it's first lawsuit for knowingly subjecting it's employees to hazardous working conditions. I think it's called NEGLIGENCE. And you Sir, have the audacity to suggest the employees should shoulder the ever increasing expense of health care premiums when this company perpetuates the VERY THING that drives those costs up! You Mr. Loveman are supposed to have a Ph.D. but WHERE is your common sense? But I do understand, of course, this could all just be this writer's opinion. And maybe, just maybe the smoke a dealer is forced to inhale won't count if it's "only" second-hand. So, let's get a second opinion. Will Cigna, your carrier of choice suffice? Just before the end of the year all employees received from Cigna, a Choosing Wellness calendar for 2008. The calendar presents a different health theme for each month. Well lo & behold, January's theme is entitled, "Do You Know What You're Smoking?" And the inset box says exactly this.... A few ingredients commonly found in cigarettes: - Arsenic: used in rat poison Acetone: main ingredient in paint thinner and fingernail polish remover Ammonia: a typical household cleaning fluid Butane: cigarette lighter fluid Carbon Monoxide: a poisonous gas found in car exhaust Formaldehyde: used to embalm dead bodies.......... So there you have it Mr. Loveman. Not my opinions but rather, Cigna FACTS. Will you people EVER wake up? And now, as promised, back to the "if I don't like it, there's the door" mentality. Which, by the way, is ultimately how this company handles any employee who appears rebellious or dares to complain. So Mr. Loveman, remember TV's "Let's Make a Deal?" Here's mine. >>> I will quit my job tomorrow because I do not like dealing with smoke if you Sir, will quit YOUR job because you do not like dealing with UNIONS. Well said, but it should be pointed out that many of us did sign statements that reflect that we understand that we work in a smoke-filled environment, although you do see one thing that many ignore. Our Union is about protecting us from policy as dictated FROM THE TOP. Mr. Loveman is the one who has been ultimately dictating policy that affects us, not anybody at that local level. Mr. Loveman has prospered, and Harrah's has negotiated with Unions and done quite well regardless. Many tout the Contract of Culinary Local 226 with Harrah's as their "best ever." Even with excellent Contracts, Unions don't seem to have affected Mr. Loveman's over-inflated bonus much anyway.
#67 Dealer Feedback Last weeks meetings regarding the hour twenties was a total waste of time. I believe the attendance spoke louder than our words about how we feel about working 80/20. The dealers that did show up were subjected to the total BULL that was shoveled out of the mouths of our management. Even the supporters of our present Table Games Manager came away saying it was the worst presentation of rationalization that they have ever heard. The dealers are not as stupid as you think. We all know that all of you have your careers at stake on this issue. You will not give back our 60/20's regardless of what we say. Just stop trying to tell us that YOU are looking out for OUR best interest. Stop asking for our opinion, We know that YOU DON'T CARE about OUR WELL BEING or anything but YOUR BONUS! And please take down that thank you note that been hanging for 3 months. Although you're obviously against hour-twenties, you can see that Management has even gotten you to use their "80/20" lingo. Doesn't it feel much better knowing that you only worked eighty minutes and not an hour-twenty? About giving back the "60/20," you do clearly see that the "consequences" would not be ours. The "total BULL" that you write about will continue to be shoveled our direction. About the thank you note, did you not think that the flowers were heartwarming?
#66 Dealer Feedback Unions are like Tick's, they suck blood! I've been dealing over 25, survived just fine without a tick on my back. Beware my young friends! By "suck blood," it is assumed that you're referring to dues. Maybe you didn't read the part where we're in a right-to-work state, and that Union dues are not mandatory. Maybe you also forgot that we got our pay raises back within one week of the launch of the website, and we can "lock in" our pay raises with "Status Quo" by petitioning and voting in our Union. Maybe you also did not realize that the dues would be covered by this seemingly insignificant pay raise quite easily. When you say "beware my young friends," to what do you refer? Is it the better benefits that Unions typically get for members? Is it the better wages and earlier retirement? How would you feel, old friend, if Harrah's took away half of its past 401k contributions from your account? You are in a position where you will soon be able to retire. Our young friends cannot, nor will they ever be able to retire at the rate that Harrah's is taking from all of us. You may have "survived just fine," but times have changed, and not for the better for working Americans like us. The best that we can do under the current system is just "survive," not thrive. You spent your earlier years reaping the rewards of the better years that Harrah's had to offer. Please help your "young friends" to get the same opportunity that you have now.
#65 Dealer Feedback with a Challenge Over this past weekend I was "afforded the
opportunity" to attend one of the meetings in which our managers
discussed the new matrix system & the ah, err, "CONSEQUENCES" (their
words not mine) of returning to our former routine of working hour on,
20 off. Personally, I found the meeting to be high pressure & heavy
handed. But I digress. And with that I offer the following challenge. Ms.
Director, I hope you're listening. For the next 12 months we will return
to hours. A full 12 months is necessary so as to entail all seasons &
holidays. At the end of said trial period each dealer will assess how
the "new" hr. on 20 off has worked out for them (income, working
conditions, fatigue, accuracy, etc.) & we will put it to a VOTE. If a
simple majority of us feel that they just cannot live without the hour
20, we shall upon said vote immediately return to that system.
Otherwise, the traditional hr. on 20 off shall rule. Please don't get your hopes up about them taking on your challenge. Harrah's refuses to provide us with a guarantee that our tokes will not be seized. That would have simply required paper and words that would hold up in a court of law. No meetings would have even been necessary. You have definitely come to the right place to communicate with Harrah's executives. As you may have read, it seems that Memphis has been a bit preoccupied with what we have to say. Rest assured, both Memphis and Ms. Director are watching the site and will read/have read your feedback. Please tell more about the "heavy handed" nature of your meeting. Sounds like they've been trained by a Union buster. Did they try to convince you that "hours" would not be good in the same way that they tried to convince us that our Union would not be good for us? More importantly, did they offer you cookies...you know, the nice fresh-baked ones, not the dried-up ones from the cafeteria?
#64 RUMPLESTILTSKIN MAD! Hey #62, I read that! LOL Actually, I hope that every
casino Dealer's website improves as they all come on board the U-Train!
Everything improves with age :^) Rumplestiltskin, you weren't supposed to read #62. Whippersnapper Union members and your blasted independence. kidding, of course
#63 Las Vegas Dealer Response In response to #58 (Feedback from a supervisor) Please understand, this behavior is not the Supervisor's fault. Many Supervisors do not know how they're being used. If you've clicked on some of the union-busters buttons on the front page or in "Link of the Week," you understand that busters coerce our friends to become somebody unfamiliar. Union busters are quite a special bunch, aren't they? They are paid excessively. They invade our community, make Managers emotional to the point of crying, subject workers to ridiculous meetings filled with disinformation, turn coworkers against one another, then they try to get everybody to blame the chaos on the Union and employees' desire for some basic rights.
#62 Las Vegas Dealer Feedback: (Please don't read, Rumplestiltskin) Wow, your site is great! Thank You! However, the only real contest here is for working citizens against corporate greed. Is it safe to assume that you've sent in your card and told all of your friends about www.TWULocal721.org?
#61 An older response from...uh...hopefully, this person has gotten more information and calmed down a bit. I have worked with Unions before. I believe one of the best things about them is that the lazy, trouble making union employees are the ones that will be the union stewards and represent all the other hard working union workers. These stewards will get the best shifts and make the most money. Another thing I like about the Unions is when you do go on strike, you don't get paid. But guess what...They will have the salaried people learn how to deal. I can't wait to learn how to deal. ha ha ha ha. As they said, you do have have to ratify the contract, but also remember the company has to agree to everything in the contract. If there is something the company doesn't like, don't worry just go on strike and have the salaried folks deal, not a problem at least you will get some time off. Good Luck to all of you. I worked for a UAW and lost my home and car back in the 80's when I went out on strike. Nice thing is we didn't even get what we wanted. I am sure they won't put this up on the website. Again, good luck because you will need it. Again, it is LakeTahoeDealers.com that will set the
record straight. Like other misinformed feedback, each topic is
addressed individually. As they said, you do have have to ratify the
contract, but also remember the company has to agree to everything in
the contract. Also, you must have been in a different UAW than the one
that has a $900,000,000 strike fund. You counted the zeros right; that’s
90% of a billion dollars to help those on the picket lines pay bills. As for the automobile industry, it can hardly be
compared to our situation. If you had read through this site before you
presented your feedback, you would have seen it addressed
here
(scroll down to bold print). Harrah's cannot feasibly move its casinos
across borders like the Big 3 automakers have done with their
manufacturing plants. While our employer was earning record profits, we were losing medical insurance, our 401k, and we have to work longer than nearly every Dealer in the rest of the state! Hopefully, this helped you to learn more about what is
going on here.
#60 Dealer Feedback "They took the cereal out when Harrah's came in."
(from #57) That's a classic! As silly as it sounds, that ought to be our
rallying cry: That pretty much sums up just how cheap Harrah's is, as they have demonstrated a "scorched earth" cost-cutting policy. If we don't get enough cards in, our rallying cry could easily change to: "Harrah's took our tips away when Apollo/TPG came in!"
#59 Feedback from a Local Resident I'm a neighbor of a [Harrah's] employee, and we
just discussed the "return" of one of the supervisors that had been
"suspended". From what I was told, this supervisor [...] decided
to sign off on several hundreds of dollars of drinks at the bar without
approval. Isn't this a form of stealing? And to protect their bottom
line, doesn't Harrah's/Harvey's/Bill's want to remove/release people
that steal? What Harrah's decides to do with this person is their choice. It's not exactly "stealing" if Harrah's has no problem with it. Plus, it probably costs Harrah's more to train a new Supervisor than it costs to just pick up the drink tab. The issue here, as it relates to Dealers, seems to be one of fairness. Why would they let a supervisor do this, while a Dealer can get fired for putting an abandoned $1 chip behind the paddle instead of in the tray? We are subjected to the whim of Management, and without Union protection, we have little say in how they treat us. A Union would not concern itself with how other employees are treated, but it would do its best to insure that Union members are not victims of double standards. We once had a general manager who was allegedly intoxicated in the club, injured himself in the casino, and was not tested for intoxication. The rest of the employees were upset with the obvious double standard, to say the least. This sort of thing will always go on among Management and their favorites, Union or not. The identity of the involved Supervisor is of no consequence. By the way, has your neighbor stood up for more rights and sent in their TWU Authorization Card yet?
#58 Feedback from a Supervisor I disagree with your proposition! [potentially threatening statement removed] Everything is fine without you, It's TAHOE! Why not just keep it at “disagree” without moving on to
the veiled threats? Nobody is going anywhere, and
not everything is fine
here. If you’re not happy with your compensation, there happen to be organizations that you may contact that can help you with your issues. For example, one such non-profit organization writes, as a part of its Constitution, "The objects of this organization shall be...To establish through collective bargaining adequate wage standards and retirement benefits, shorter hours of work and improvements in the conditions of employment for the workers in the industry." (emphasis ours) If you are very happy, that's an equally good reason to
seek representation. "Status Quo" gets locked in once there is a
petition for a vote, and Harrah's cannot change any policies as they
relate to your work situation.
#57 Caesars Palace Dealer Feedback Hello our Brothers and Sisters in the frigid North! Frigid? You obviously weren't at the Giants/Packers game. Frigid does keep the snow good, though. : ) About the complaints, as a Harrah's employee, you know better. We complained when hour-twenties were announced and from the day they started through today. We've written about them in our EOS (Union busting) surveys; we've spoken about them with Turning the Tables committee members, our fellow Dealers, friends in other departments, Dual Rates, Floor Supervisors, Assistant Shift Managers, Shift Managers, Director of Table Games, and they even came up in some of our mandatory Union busting meetings. Word has it that Harrah's Executives have read about them as being an issue on this website. They haven't fixed anything about the situation. They haven't even addressed it. Nothing has stopped the rumors from feeling more credible, though. Management is being a bit nicer around Dealers, but that does nothing to pay our bills and reduce fatigue from being overworked. So far, our biggest change is that we got our 3% raises back. They make such a big deal out of our CSA bonuses, but when you figure where a 3% gets you, for the Full-Timers getting their full hours, it amounts to two full CSA bonuses. We have been told in recent buzz sessions how well we've been doing company-wide (3rd), but they skip past the fact that we don't have a shot at any bonus because we did so well last year, too.
#56 Dealer Feedback: There are a few negative feedbacks that have been waiting to be addressed. This is the most polite and rational of the bunch and will be addressed first. I don't know what people think is going to get better about Lake Tahoe. This is a small market compared to Vegas. I think that we are the best compensated casino dealers in northern Nevada. Our benefits are very good, our 401k plan is very good, our pay is very good, and if we sign away, companies do everything to fight unions. Nothing is guaranteed to get better. Our job is pretty cush right now and I would really not want to take that chance of screwing it up and paying outside people who just are trying to make themselves money. Each sentence is addressed individually. Our benefits were very good ten years ago. Harrah’s now
refuses to provide nearly half of the Dealers with medical insurance. For our part-timers, their medical insurance is virtually nonexistent.
Our 401k plan is now half of what is was, and our pay raises were
eliminated until shortly after this website was uploaded. However, there is one MAJOR first thing that our Union
instantly does: it protects us from
things getting worse. There is also a legal guarantee of “Status
Quo” once we petition for a vote. Harrah’s can change none of its
policies as they affect us, and if we don’t like our Contract, we don’t
ratify it.
#55 Feedback from a Dealer Hour Twenties are now, again, a hot topic in the break room. It seems that discussions on the failed experiment of Hour Twenties is to be addressed by our Table Games Manager in the upcoming Turn The Tables and or open round table meetings soon. The first rationalization that was given to the dealers three years ago was "This will increase your Tokes". We all know that this DID NOT HAPPEN. We all know what really happened; No More Money, Just a lot more fatigue and a pain in the ***!! Lots more mistakes, especially the last twenty, and the loss of an "upbeat and positive attitude" toward our jobs. The latest spin being told is that Our Table Games Manager is going to show us that working Hour Twenties will save more dealer Jobs! Let's see, if you need 5 dealer's for every 4 Games working Hour Twenties but you need 4 dealer's for every 3 games by working hours, the math says you will save more jobs by going back to Hours! It has also been mentioned that the Hour twenties are going to be done away with. Let us all hope and pray for this option and the elimination of these back breaking Hour Twenties. No matter How they try to sell it, the only reason for [hour-twenties] is to SAVE the COMPANY a Couple of Bucks at our expense.....AGAIN! Don't believe it for a second that ANY promise that will be made by ANY of Management NOW will be kept! Stay Strong, Stay United, and send in your UNION PETITION CARDS! There are more of us then them, and management is afraid now that Caesar's Palace IS UNION. It's time to get our cards in and put a stop to all this nonsense. Make no mistake about it: hour-twenties are no failed experiment. The policy was imported from St. Louis with our current department managers and is intended to be permanent. It was not until this Union drive started that there was any possibility of their elimination. There is a second reason they brought hour-twenties here, and that is for increasing Management's big bonuses. About Management's promises, they've made none. They still refuse to guarantee the safety of our tokes. There is not even a guarantee that we will have the same managers in place one week from now. These are just rumors at this stage, but at no time since hour-twenties were forced on us in 2004 has there been any excitement that we may go back to the industry standard. Regardless of which choice is made, remember that it is 100% Management's decision as to which direction to go. Without our Union, we have no legal leverage to improve our situation. Without our Union, the best that we can do is "hope." If this was not so palpable, comment would be avoided on hearsay like this. About the "pray" part, nobody here is going to touch anything having to do with religion. Now about the Nevada Caucuses...
#54 Feedback from a Dealer I would like to commend the handlers of this site for
some noticeable recent improvements. First, the home page is (finally)
well-organized and concise, and as such, it now serves as an
easy-to-follow intro to the cause and a guide to the site. Second, it is
straightforward and professional in tone, now devoid of rhetoric that
can be a real turn-off. I would suggest that previous use of
gamesmanship, sarcastic nicknames and personal characterizations, and
repeated denials about things being personal - along with a lack of
proofreading - have only served to illuminate and simultaneously turn
off. You have been undermining your own effort here, and my interest has
been held only by the equally dubious platform on which Management
stands. Assuming that it is okay to re-quote your last point... Second, and fellow dealers, REALLY think about this: the GM, who previously - and understandably - devoted zero time to meeting and mixing with us, suddenly carved 20+ hours out of his schedule (or was it more?) to talk to us. Come on people, THINK! What was that sudden departure from norm all about??? Forget everything else that's been said - and how it's been said - by either side. That singular action speaks volumes, and that reason alone is the best one I can think of for seeking third-party representation. This may get a bit redundant, but seriously... REALLY think about this: the GM, who previously - and understandably - devoted zero time to meeting and mixing with us, suddenly carved 20+ hours out of his schedule (or was it more?) to talk to us. Come on people, THINK! What was that sudden departure from norm all about??? Forget everything else that's been said - and how it's been said - by either side. That singular action speaks volumes, and that reason alone is the best one I can think of for seeking third-party representation. It went beyond just the GM. There were also two Vice Presidents who set aside all of that time, simultaneously, in their schedules. It was only ONE WEEK between the time that this website went public and the meetings. As you said, Come on people, THINK! If they believe that our Union is going to result in no net gain for Dealers, why would so many executives spend all that time on us? The goal here is not to win a political debate; it is to bring democracy and more rights into our workplace. This is overdue. Although the site is still peppered with a bit of sarcasm, rational, informed feedback is taken seriously. What else do you feel is lacking? Are the links informative? This is an open request for our readers: if there are any corrections needed, please point them out, and necessary adjustments will be made. Recent changes came as a result of input from other people. You are dealing with internet amateurs who are dedicated to a cause, and we are paid accordingly ($0.00). Please do not let any appearance of unprofessionalism turn you off; we are Dealers who are on your side. You will see what a professional website looks like when Harrah's Union busters unveil their site. By the way, How loudly do your actions speak? Sorry, couldn't resist. 'Hope you enjoyed the snow, or at least dug out and stayed safe.
#53 Information from TWU Local 721 From Las Vegas Dealers Union Local 721, TWU/AFL-CIO
#52 Feedback from a Dealer As a Tahoe dealer of many years I would like voice my opinion! Let us face facts, Shingle Springs is opening in October of 2008. The numbers that this town estimates is a ** million(s) dollar loss of revenue after Shingle Springs opens this fall. Now that we have been sold to a private equity firm that expects a **% return on their money, where do you, as employees, expect that the new owners will get their return on investment? Cost Cutting and the sale of properties is their option! Long term dealers, Dealers that have regained their full time status, any full time dealer and supervisors plus dual rates with vacation time and health benefits are on the cutting block. Is there a layoff and rehire of employees in the near future? It's my opinion that we protect ourselves by VOTING in a Union. Like it or not, WE NEED A UNION TO STOP ANY CHANGES BEFORE THEY BEGIN. PROTECT YOURSELF. Get your Union cards in before it's too late. There
is life after TAHOE but it is not the same! That is what management has
been using against us for 40 years, and it's been working for 40 years.
Lets stop the fear, intimidation and ignorance that our management
counts on! Read this web site and Vote Union YES! It's our only chance! Management has kept quiet the consequences of a major competitor taking customers away from our games. We still have no guarantees from Management about anything. If you have any numbers/statistics to present, please provide links/references so that the accuracy can be confirmed. Common sense does indicate that more competition en route to Tahoe cannot be a good thing for us. Any drop in business will affect us, and without a Contract, we will have no say in what Management does to us. From speculation about our "increased income" on hour twenties to misinformation about Unions, Management demonstrates that it has greed where it lacks credibility. We cannot take Management's word for anything.
#51 A Caesars Palace Dealer writes: I recall asking myself why I needed Union prior to
our organizing at Caesars. I only had to look up the street about two
blocks to Mr. Wynn's property to give myself a conclusive answer. Mr.
Wynn is the poster boy of corporate greed and Mr. Loveman is cut from
the same cloth. You mean to tell us that Mr. Loveman is greedy like Mr. Wynn? Say it ain't so. There are many people here who still believe that the Wynn tip policy won't happen to us. Right now, there is a great deal for us hinging on the Nevada State Supreme Court, and that is because we have done nothing to protect ourselves. It should be obvious that Harrah's has not yet enacted any variation of this policy because its legality is still in question. Despite the Caesars Palace vote, and despite its claims, Harrah's has refused to provide guarantees that this policy will not be implemented here in any way, shape, or form. Once the Court rules against Dealers, Harrah's will be able to take our tips away. Wynn Dealers still don't have their money back. Contrary to the lie that we were told, Steve Wynn never once tried to give it back. This is our only defense:
#50 Feedback from a Dealer Any dealer in Tahoe should see that casino companies (like other large corporations) are in it for the bottom line- to make HUGE profits for the few, while the underlings get screwed more and more each and every day. It's now getting to the point where the uppers even want to control HOW our toke monies are going to be distributed, a la "Steverino" Wynn. They want to reach into our own pockets (as if they're not already), and subsidize other employees, rather than lower their own bonus structure. These are OUR HARD EARNED TOKES, AND THEY WANT A PIECE OF THE ACTION!!! Along with our WONDERFUL health plan- if this doesn't p**s anybody off by now, they need to WAKE UP!!! We need EVERYBODY to take a stand, and not let these corporate shysters dictate what they think is the best for us. (actually, THEM). I challenge one of these anti's (management, uppers, former laid off dealers etc.) refute this claim!!! Harrah's primary tools are fear and misinformation. When scrutinized, their arguments only serve to expand our "Myths and Lies" section. Please read through it and see if anything has been left out. What do people around you say about Unions that you know is a blatant lie? We post their lies here and set the record straight. You do clearly see that their bonuses drive them more than our well-being does. It appears that Management projected its own objectives onto our Union ambitions by writing: "In our opinion, they [TWU] are interested in only one thing. Gaining new members and income through union dues." If Management is so concerned about us, why do they continue to do everything that they can to save money even when it is at our expense? Why did they stop short of telling us all of the facts, such as the fact that our Contract must be ratified after negotiations? Why don't they explain that TWU does not force anything on us like Harrah's does? Please continue to inform those around you. If you don't have the answers for them, refer your friends here. We respond to all relevant inquiries. edit: You already know that they won't refute your claim. They will not even provide us with simple guarantees that nothing will get worse.
#49 Dealer Reply re: feedback #47 If you are surprised that #47 was posted, wait until light shines on responses that arrived shortly after the meetings. They have been set aside until more people inform themselves and emotions settle a bit more. Although we are undoubtedly more truthful than Harrah's, and although the site is operated with some semblance of fairness, this website is not a true democracy. A democracy involves documents like a Constitution. Transport Workers Union of America operates under its Constitution and will bring democracy to our workplace with our "YES" votes. When we have a Contract, we have a legally binding agreement with our employer. There will be no more policy changes without our consent. In contrast, Harrah's provides an Employee Handbook, subject to the whim of Management, which "represents only current policies, procedures, regulations and benefits, and that the company may make changes in them from time to time." Ironically, the person who submitted #47 neglected to provide their name and contact information.
#48 Feedback from a Caesars Palace Dealer FYI, The $94,000,000 shyster never made it to address the Dealers of Caesars Palace. Not once since Harrah's took over has he ever addressed us. I guess that making the most important decision in our careers (voting for the Union) didn't much interest him. Although he had our VP of Casino Ops, VP of HR, General Manager, property President and the Head of Harrah's Western Division talk to us in "captive audience" meetings, evidently our CEO didn't think it important enough to speak to the Dealers at the "Flagship". Mr. Loveman has demonstrated that his personal interests, like the Boston Celtics, are more important than his professional interests. Maybe he was afraid that drawing parallels between Harrah's poor health care and his slightly injured toe would be taken the same way that it was in Atlantic City. Having lost his footing as he stepped on front-line employees, his "stubbed toe" comment is a legendary example of how CEOs are out of touch with working people like us. As you know, Mr. Loveman is the one who ultimately drives Harrah's policies, not the local management team. It is during his tenure that 100% of our issues have arisen, not our on-property management team's tenure. With or without his help, the failing "no" vote at both Caesars properties was exactly the same at 128.
#47 Why are you so secretive, about who you are. There
are laws that protect you, when showing interest in a union. I just dont
understand, if you are so proud of this movement why not stand up. You
are protected.
#46 From Rumplestiltskin: Hello Lake Tahoe Dealers! Please reread this feedback. This is where we all need to be. For those unfamiliar, Rumplestiltskin is a Webmaster for the Caesars Palace Dealers website. With thanks to "Rumplestiltskin," 379 other Caesars Palace Dealers who voted "YES," and 444 Wynn Dealers who voted "YES," TWU now represents Dealers of the two premier casinos in the world! That puts an end to any claim that "TWU is not right for us."
#45 Feedback from a Local. Hello-- I have been following this since my neighbor
told me about it. If I may, I'd like to give my 2-cents worth. You've got the idea, but three corrections are needed. 1. If there's a "no" vote on Contract ratification, it goes back to "the table." 2. Negotiations for future Contracts are ideally completed before the current Contract expires to provide a seamless transition. 3. For those who choose Management's side, there is nothing you can do but hope for the best. If you choose to join your fellow Dealers, we can influence change. We will have power that we never had before. We will elect our own representatives from within our ranks. We will have professionals on our side to help us to get what we need. Addition/Correction (4): It is unclear if you realize that there is a vote on our Union after there are enough cards submitted, but before we go into negotiations. That is the BIG ELECTION that Caesars Palace Dealers just won. There are two yes/no votes that take place. One is for the Union itself, and the second is on the Contract.
#44 A Dealer writes... The deal is done and the NEW OWNERS are on the way.
AS of December 24, 2007 ALL of Harrah's properties have been approved
for the takeover. The future is here and the changes are
coming......AGAIN! Nobody can say what the change's will be but DO WE
WANT to gamble with our future? When was the last time things got BETTER
with a new owner?
#43 Dealer Feedback As a dealer here in Tahoe, I am so proud that the Caesars dealers did not fall to the intimidation and dirty tricks of management and their over paid union busters. Who will be next?? I hope Tahoe is next. Dealers, this is what the union is all about: coming together as one powerful unit to save what we have from corporate greed. It is NOT ABOUT GOING ON STRIKE! So get your cards in dealers, Let's protect ourselves together. The future is upon us and the takeover has been approved for ALL of Harrah's in Nevada. Thank you TWU, Wynn dealers, Caesars dealers, for making the future brighter for dealers all over the state. The only time that anybody has ever written the word "strike" on this website, it is in the context that this Union drive is NOT about going on strike. It is about having a Contract to help support and protect us.
#42 Caesars Palace Dealer writes: HI Tahoe Dealers, I am an IHO (IN-House Organizer) for Caesars Palace and I am proud to say we won our election yesterday, in spite of all the illegal and threatening efforts of our management. They were shameless! However, the more they lied, threatened and intimidated only inspired the dealers to prevail, in other words, they pissed us off royally. They targeted small groups, took them to the office and questioned and intimidated them, especially the young and the Asians, we answered with an overwhelming YES vote! The road will not be easy but we will be here for you. Just remember- it is about the money- not if you like your supervisors or shift managers. I liked my managers, however, they may not like me much anymore. Most of our organizers were dealers that had never been in trouble, people most respected and was well liked so my point is- don't make it personal- it's business. I wish you all the best of luck and you can always reach us for help! One last thing, it was the most rewarding feeling being in the room when the ballots were counted and the representative kept saying -YES_YES_YES and to finally feel like we could have some control in our futures and not be "at will employees"! With that being said, "Solidarity and Merry Christmas, Peace and Happiness to you and your families" from your sisters and brothers at Caesars Palace! This is a very important one to remember: "don't make it personal- it's business." Harrah's is trying to do everything that it can to make this personal. Harrah's has lied. They have told half-truths and mislead. As was done in previous feedbacks, and we ask anybody and everybody this: where and in what way has this website misled anybody? You will find the truth here, and mistakes will be corrected.
#41 Dealer Feedback THEY DID IT! THEY DID IT! Well said. Happy Holidays!
#40 Dealer feedback In response to #38, when you say "no one has touched
our tokes". Allow me to remind you of a time when tokes were handed out
weekly in a separate toke check from the toke room. It was a good
feeling to know that you'd have $$$ for whatever reason on a weekly
basis. That was
changed to the current situation of tokes being included in the
bi-weekly paycheck. What does Harrah's do with the $$$ that dealers
have earned during these two weeks? Just hold it aside in a slush fund
of some sort? I've heard rumors that they have a bank account, earning
interest off the dealers' money, then giving it back to the dealers,
interest free. Does that sound fair for them to profit further off
dealers' work? I'm not saying that I'm pro-union, just for once I'm
agreeing that deeper research on both sides needs to be done before
commenting on matters. Good point. Our tokes already have been touched. It was Steve Wynn who was the first to force Dealer tokes into their paychecks, now nearly every other casino does the same. It was also Steve Wynn who was the pioneer of his toke redistribution scheme. We have a say in stopping this from happening to us if we choose to do so. Errors in grammar do occur, and we attempt to keep them to a minimum. If anything crucial needs correction, please inform us.
#39 Dealer Feedback If you can guarantee our safety, and cease the hour twenty's please put me on board. Mgmt. is the fat cat, we are tired of no voice. As you know from reading the site, nobody can make any guarantees about the results of Contract negotiations. Obviously, you will have more of a voice if you choose to get involved. It is unclear what you mean by "safety." Nobody was harmed in the Union drives in Las Vegas, and your TWU Authorization Card is confidential. Despite what Management wants you to believe, we are very peaceful.
#38 Feedback from a Dealer you won't post this in it's entirety... probably some
mutated form... but, here's the issue. You prey off of fear and
uncertainties, and you insist that a union will save jobs... but it
can't. You hope that people who's jobs are on the line join your cause.
You hope people who are part time and don't understand their hours get
cut, join your cause. In reality, we in Tahoe have it pretty nicely. No
one has touched our tokes. You prey on the fear of things that happened
during our other merger... that's not cool. | |||
