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My Name is Mario and I'm a Horseshoe Striker
Mario Sandoval
Binion’s; Food server in the steakhouse
Union member since 1982; member since 16 years old 
 
In December of 1989, they started talking about a strike. 
 
I was about 25 years old. I was nervous, but I knew what I had to do. I went out with everyone else in January of 1990 and was worried because I had two kids and my wife to support. We stood strong. Jack Binion had a lot of money, he would give cash away at the machines to keep people playing. He would come out to the front doors and say “Come on back to work, Mario!” I would always tell him, “Jack you know what you have to do, man. Sign the contract!” I spent the next 9 months walking the strike line at the old valet. 
 
During that time I started to get sick, but I didn’t know what it was. I was feeling really bad and it got to the point where I couldn’t yell “Pass it on by” anymore on the strike line. I started getting these headaches, but we were on strike and I just didn’t go to the doctor. I was hard-headed, young, and thought I was made of steel. In December of 1990, there was a rumor about us going back to work. Soon after, I went back to work. My coworker Michael and I went back to work as the scabs were still working in our steakhouse. I told them, “I’ll see you later” because that was their last night. 
 
Everybody came back to work and a month later I got sick again. I went and got a CAT scan. The technician told me that I had to go to the doctor. I told him, I have an appointment tomorrow. He said “no, you have to go to see the doctor right now.” I was nervous, but I went to the doctor and he had the results of the CAT scan. He took me in his office and he told me that I had a brain tumor. I said, “WHAT?!” I was speechless. He said that he had to do an MRI and then after that, he said that I had to go into surgery immediately and that there was no alternative. 
 
After an 8-hour surgery, the brain tumor was removed. They did a biopsy and it turned out that it was malignant. He said that I should have chemo and radiation to make sure that everything was gone, but I refused chemo and radiation. I asked him what my chances were and the doctor said it was 50-50. I took my chance and I’m still here today.
 
What changed my life was the fact that I walked out for 9 months. I knew it was the right thing to do, but I didn’t realize how important the health insurance was that I was fighting for. I used that insurance that I was fighting for to save my own life. I was only back to work for one month and I got sick.  
 
Teamwork. Sticking together. That is what makes all the difference. United we stand. Divided we fall. That is one thing I learned from being on the picket line. I’ve seen it first hand. 
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Meet Michelle, cocktail server at the Cosmopolitan

My babies are the main reason that I am involved with the union. When I came to the Cosmo two years ago I was given hope that with our union recognition would come a timely contract and the Culinary union health insurance… the best health insurance. My oldest son was born prematurely and with a blood disorder and my newest addition was born with a congenital defect. 

We are all here for the same basic reasons and we are all making similar personal and economic sacrifices for this contract. 

I will sacrifice anything today to provide for my family tomorrow.

- Michelle Lisher

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