The graceful fountains and picturesque landscaping in front of Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada served as an ironic peaceful backdrop to a passionate and angry TWU protest two weeks ago.

On September 17, the last day of TWU’s 23rd Constitutional Convention, hundreds of delegates and their friends and families arrived by the busload in front of Caesar’s to “Support Their Dealers.”

Dealers at Caesars Palace voted in December of 2007 by a 3 to 1 margin to be represented by Local 721 of the Gaming Division of the Transport Workers Union, but have been unable to bring long negotiations to a conclusion with a contract. After engaging in anti-union election tactics in 2007, Harrah’s Entertainment, the parent company of Caesars Palace, has stalled contract negotiations for its 600 dealers for nearly two years.

“These dealers deserve dignity and respect, and a grievance process,” said TWU President James C. Little. “It is despicable the way they are refusing to give their dealers a contract.”

“Two years is too long,” said Joe Carbon, director of TWU’s Gaming Division, a phrase that became a favored chant by TWU members at the rally. Kanie Kastroll, a Wynn dealer and acting president of Local 721 added, “it shouldn’t take a federal law to get a fair contract.”

At the AFL-CIO Convention on Sept. 19, President Barack Obama declared that unions are part of the solution to rebuilding the middle class and pledged to sign the Employee Free Choice Act. The passage of the Act would mandate that employers and unions enter into binding arbitration if agreement could not be reached on a first contract in a timely manner.

TWU made it clear to Harrah’s management that “two years is too long,” and that it will continue to support its dealers until they receive the dignity and respect they deserve.

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