Worker Station

UFC should stay out of Fertitta-owned hotels

Ahead of UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on the Las Vegas Strip on May 28, the UFC made a surprising announcement. The mixed martial arts promotion announced that it "make[s] every effort to work with unionized workers around the county." This means that UFC fighters and others associated with UFC 130 should not stay at Station Casinos properties like Red Rock Resort and Green Valley Ranch as well as the Palms, even though all of these casino-hotels are partially owned by Frank Fertitta III and Lorenzo Fertitta, the majority owners of UFC. 

On the Las Vegas Strip, most of the hotels are unionized so there should be no problem for the UFC to put up everyone working for UFC 130 in a union hotel this weekend. 

Do you think UFC should boycott all Station Casinos properties like Red Rock Resort and Green Valley Ranch because they are non-union? 

Drop us a line if you see any UFC fighter or UFC executive staying at a non-union hotel this weekend!

Below is what the UFC in its recent press statement: "The UFC makes every effort to work with unionized workers around the country. This past weekend in Toronto the UFC spent over $1 million in direct wages to union employees. Almost 500 union workers from stagehands to electricians to security guards to ushers would be employed for a single UFC event at Madison Square Garden. In fact, the very union opposing this bill and criticizing the UFC's business practices sought its business for its very own travel booking company called Inmex, ensuring that UFC stays in unionized hotels around the country. The UFC was pleased to enter into this business relationship which exists to this day." 

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Teresa Debellonia's Story

Station Casinos Mounts No Defense in Massive Labor Law Violation Trial

The trial before a U.S. administrative law judge in the largest Unfair Labor Practices case ever filed against a Nevada gaming company by the U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) came to an abrupt end last week. In a surprise move, Station Casinos presented no defense when it came time for the company to defend itself.

Also, two workers fired by the company after exercising their lawful right to form a union at Station Casinos were recently reinstated after NLRB charges were filed alleging that the company fired the women because of their union activity. In the case of one of the workers, the government charged the company with allegedly retaliating against her because she testified as a government witness in the NLRB’s case against Station Casinos.

“Station Casinos is the third largest private employer in Las Vegas and it has been waging a hostile and what we believe is an illegal anti-union campaign against its workers who are only trying to secure a better future for themselves and their families,” said Culinary Workers Union President Geoconda Arguello-Kline.  “It is truly alarming that a company which claims to loves locals has had the federal government step in to ensure that workers are not retaliated against for exercising their rights under federal labor laws.”

The government’s nearly seven-month prosecution of the company began on October 26, 2010.  The NLRB’s case stems from charges filed by the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 against Station Casinos.

After conducting an investigation of the charges filed by the unions, the NLRB issued a massive 166-count complaint against the company last fall.  Additional charges were added later.  The vast majority of the government’s charges allege that, from February 19 through August 31 of last year, the company illegally used threats, intimidation, interrogation, surveillance, bribery, discouragement, discrimination, discipline and even physical assault to thwart workers efforts to form a union, rights protected by federal labor laws.

A decision in the case is expected later this year.