In Union Case, Feds Charge Trump Las Vegas with More Unfair Labor Practices

 For Immediate Release: Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Contact: Bethany Khan ▪ BKhan@CulinaryUnion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088

In Union Case, Feds Charge Trump Las Vegas with More Unfair Labor Practices

Las Vegas, NV – This week Donald Trump’s hotel in Las Vegas is facing more heat for its labor record. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has issued another federal complaint against Trump Ruffin Commercial, LLC, alleging that the company unlawfully terminated one employee and discriminated against another based on their union support, and promised employees job opportunities if they abandoned the union.  

Trump’s company has driven an aggressive anti-union campaign since workers began organizing at the Trump Las Vegas in 2014.  The complaint issued this week is the third one brought by federal government against Trump Las Vegas alleging unfair labor practices. In prior complaints, federal officials have alleged that Trump’s hotel company engaged in the following unlawful activities: 1) maintaining rules prohibiting workers from communicating with one another and the public; 2) interrogations and surveillance; 3) intimidation of employees by Trump management and security staff, including a manager physically pushing employees; and 4) suspensions and a threat to fire union supporters.  

Trump’s company settled to avoid one trial in 2014 and settled another complaint in late 2015, rescinding rules that unlawfully silenced workers. Trump Las Vegas then faced a trial before the NLRB that awaits a final determination on other alleged conduct, including physically pushing union supporters and other coercive activities. In the latest case, Trump Las Vegas will face a hearing on April 12, 2016 before an administrative law judge of the NLRB.

Despite these obstacles to a free and fair union election, a majority of workers at the Trump Las Vegas voted to unionize in a NLRB election held December 4-5, 2015. Trump’s company filed objections in an attempt to overturn that election. On February 19, 2016, a federal officer issued a detailed report calling for the union to be certified and the hotel’s objections to be “overruled in their entirety.” The hotel is appealing the recommendation.

Now Trump Las Vegas hotel employees and the Culinary Union are redoubling the push on Mr. Trump to negotiate with workers. The Culinary Union is calling on him to sit down with his employees to begin negotiations, and workers are following him on the campaign trail to echo these demands. On Friday, March 11, 2016, Trump Las Vegas workers will be in Chicago, participating in protests at a Trump campaign rally.

Trump Las Vegas workers say they just want a fair deal like his company made with workers in Canada. The vote by Trump Las Vegas workers to unionize happened just one week after Trump workers in Toronto ratified their first union contract after voting to form a union that year.

“If Donald Trump wants to ‘Make America Great Again,’ he should start by negotiating a fair deal with us like his company made with its Canadian workers,” said Maria Jaramillo, a housekeeper at the Trump Las Vegas who is participating in the Trump Negotiations Tour.

Culinary Workers Local 226 and Bartenders Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE, represent over 57,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including at most of casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. UNITE HERE represents 270,000 workers in gaming, hotel, and food service industries in North America.

CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226

Complaint from the NLRB here.

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