Badboy - let me just comment on your "Caesar's being stupid" line since you're 1,900 miles away and I have a Caesar's swipe card.
I know that as conservatives we are supposed to hate all things union. But let's be mindful of something. Unions, historically in the US, are responsible for many of the working conditions we GOP working rank and file now take for granted: 8 hour work days; 5 day work weeks; safe and sanitary working conditions, etc. Not to mention, unionization is a democratic and self dependent process - there is a vote, and the organizers on property are individual Caesar's workers whom volunteer to use their own time and effort to correct (via a union yes vote) what they see as wrongs committed by management. Now, before Titus falls out of his chair after having read me defend unions, let me say this: the modern day "inheritors" of these historical movements have perverted and pimped out what was originally a justified organization of individuals. Political donations are made without member consent; some, such as the Auto Workers Union, give no thought to how their demands are crushing the very companies they work for; and movements to remove the secret casting of ballots - so that you have to vote in front of your pro-union coworkers, are all deplorable, and have given unionizing in general a deservedly bad name.
So my point is this - the concept of workers getting together to correct a clear and obvious wrong -such as Steve Wynn stealing their tokes - is in and of itself an understandable reaction. Or, as in the case of a coworker of mine, he has been dealing at Caesar's for 36 years, and the unionized cocktail waitress that gets hired tomorrow will have a base salary higher than his because he still makes minimum wage - in a company that sets one record profit quarter after another. In those instances I understand the impulse to unionize because as we all know, marching into a shift boss office and demanding a redress to your grievances will get you little more than a permanent Let-It-Ride schedule and denied days off requests. Unfortunately, although this and many other union efforts may start off with an earnest attempt to correct wrong done by mgmt, years from now this union (the Trans Worker Union) will likely politically and economically pimp out and pervert the dealer's local, just like any other. There should be a happy medium - record profits for shareholders and good treatment of employees.
And just let me add this - the only people that could have stopped this inevitable city-wide dealer unionization that I'm predicting, were those such as Gary Luvman (CEO Harrah's Inc), Sheldon Adelson (owner of the Venetian) and every other head of every other casino by coming out and emphatically stating, "NO, we will not take your tokes like Wynn - EVER." But instead the standard line was "let's wait and see what the courts decide" (the Wynn dealer's law suit). THAT was stupid. And it gave the TWU all the window they needed.
FR
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OH good lord, let me see. Do you have a 5 day work week? yes. Do you have an 8 hour day? yes. Do you get 2 hours worth of breaks in an 8 hour shift? yes. Does your base salary even make up a small portion of your annual gross? no.
As a previous employee of the Beau Rivage you understand just like the rest of us that if anyone should have tried to get a union it would have been us at the Beau proir to the storm. Management went out of their way to make our lives miserable and they did, for several years. There is nothing like walking into work everyday and wondering if it was your day for the axe. Fortunately we are under new management since the storm and the treatment of the dealers is 400% better and I don't worry on a daily basis for my job. Just so you know MGM/Mirage did put it in writing that they wouldn't do what they did at the Wynn and beleive me we were watching just as close here as you guys were when that was going on.
If you are truly that worried about what Harrahs is going to do why don't you come back to the coast, make a good wage, work in a beutiful establishment and live with a little peace of mind. I lived in Vegas and dealt at the Mirage right next door to you so I can honestly say "been there done that" and trust me when I say I won't be doing it again. Vegas is a raging shit hole to live in and unless you are looking for 3 or 4 days of all the hookers, alcohol and gambling you can get your hands on there isn't one redeeming quality to the greater Las Vegas area.
Right now I have to go to work but when I get back I will continue with how unions are bad under such subject matter such as why management can't get rid of fossils that do nothing but eat your toke rate.
Baddboy
First off, it's a shame we didn't meet (that I know of) when I was working there. At that time James & Tom were still at the Grand, so my political debate at work was limited. Although "Mick" (Miles Hartfield, best damn pencil there ever was and defacto pit boss)was a great guy and we quickly became friends. Far left, but super smart and disliked Jesse Jackson - gotta love a dem like that. I dealt dice most days, was on swing and then went to day shift right before the storm. At any rate, yes, they were screwing with us at that time - write ups for the smallest infraction and the way they enforced the gaming rules - man alive! I called them the dice Nazis. Full stick calls, must shout out "down behind", and the worst was when dice players were forbidden from making bets "on top" so we could stay up. Out of no where they said to stop. And the kicker was that you couldn't tell the player that he had to place your bet in the middle (on the hardways for example) because that was considered solicitaion! So a guy would bet 5 and one, shout: "dealers ride with me", and when it hit (hard eight let's say) you would have to pay the guy 54 dollars and simply hope he would figure out that the extra nine was the money he intended for us and throw it back in. ALL without you being allowed to explain any of this to him! INSANITY!
Look - I'm a rock-rib consrvative. I have always oppposed unions because it took power away from the business owner. I still feel that way. A guy pours his blood and sweat into a company and then here comes a union to tell him how to treat his employees (I'm over simplifying the matter, but you get the idea). I always figured if you didn't like the way he runs it (as an employee), then leave! But here's the thing - two things I as a conservative belive in, in principle, are in conflict in this specific instance of dealer's unionizing.
What are the core priinciples political conservatism is based upon? (I say "political" so Tom doesn't bust my chops with the Webster's definition: "resistant to change.") It's self reliance. Private ownership. Personal liberty. Less government and more personal responsability. Rugged individualism - right? That's what is at our shared ideology, at it's core.
So here's the conlflict: dealers, in a town surrounded by organized labor, have traditionally said "no" to unions. We are the lone hold out when it comes to vital casino services. Waitresses, bartenders, chefs, construction, painters, preformers - all union. Even the guys in the Caesars outfit, walking around to take pictures with guests from Toleto, have an actor's guild card -I shit you not. Now you would think that Wynn or Luvman would appreciate that fact - that we remained union free - especially when you consider how vital we are. I mean what we and the slot dept do is what makes everything else possible. Instead they have decided to take advantage of the fact that we have no organized resistance, and try to literally steal (successfully in Wynn's case) our income. And that's the conflict: if the govt tries to come to my door and take my gun (every conservative's worst nightmare, especially southerners) I would resist. If they try to take my property - I resist. If they infringe on my right to free speech - I resist. And if the notorious "they" try to take food off my table - snatch meals out of the mouths of my children by confiscating my income without representation, then you better damn well believe that I will resist that too - and what difference does it make if the "they" are the government or some huge multinational corporation? What it comes down to is a beuracracy infringing on my right to the persuit of happiness. Not the actual happiness mind you - that's what lib's think they are entitled to - I'm talking the persuit. Unfortunately for me the only alternative I have, the only form of resistance available, is the union. I know, I know, you mentioned "the old dinasaurs" that slow down your toke rate - they'd be untouchable under a union. I don't know how old you are, or if you eventually plan
on leaving the business (like me), but outside of that you will one day be "an old dinosaur", not to mention, that argument is rather juvenile. When I got to Vegas, Caesar's in particular, I noticed that the work force was much older. There's only a handful of dice dealers on day shift that have brown hair - the rest is either silver or gone. And they get around the dice table about as quick as Tom would vote for Bill Bennet (for anything) - which is to say not at all. But, we have players with 100k to 1 million dollar lines that come in JUST to play with the dealer they've known since 1970. We have delaers that get Christmas cards from their players each year because they've known them almost as long as I've been alive. What do you think that does for our toke rate? A LOT. And the proof is there - anything under a $300 a day is considered "bad." That's 40 bucks an hour man. So here you have these old timers - poured their sweat into being loyal for 25 & 30 years - and here comes Harrah's firing them as soon as they can for any reason they can come up with in order to have a younger looking workforce. A green bunch of dealers that are asking a million dollar guy for his players card before he takes a 10k marker, because nobody knows him now. On top of that they (Harrah's), unlike the Mirage Corp, did NOT sign any agreement not to take tokes. And by the way, what's to hold them to that agreement - the Mirage I mean? They could tear it up tomorrow and you know what you'd do? Clock in. That's what.
Also, the waitresses at Caesar's - especially on day shift - to the woman are ALL older than my mother. LITERALLY. Young guys constantly walk in and say to me, "what's up with your waitresses man?" You know what I'm thinking? We're not catering to you buddy, and your 60 dollar buy in on a $25 game. The old guys, who can afford to play for longer than 3 minutes, betting a thousand a hand, they like these waitresses because they've known them for 10 years (at least) and they don't even have to name the drink - the gal knows it, and brings it to him. And guess what? Even with our "older" waitresses, we blow doors in gaming revenue and tips in comparison to the Hard Rock who has ALL young, hot girls slinging drinks. So don't give me this nonsense about older people not preforming and slowing down the tokes - it's the opposite here. Hard Rock can't even get close to our revenue or level of play - and I'm talking Caesar's alone - not the 41 property large Harrah's corp. Not to mention, I'm sure the dealers at the Rock would trade the young hot girls for our $300 a day, instead of their usual buck fifty. Their dealers quit and come to us - not the other way around. And Harrah's mngmt - thinking immaturely, like you - wants to go and screw with that "old timer" formula AND virtually threatens to take our tokes on top of it. A formula that's kept Caesar's in the top tier of properties (in revenue and tips) for 40 years, despite a hundred new joints opening up each year. I don't like the thought of unionizing any more than the next conservative - but I'm dealing with the lesser of two evils here. And if one of those evils is less money for my family, then the choice becomes very clear, very fast.
FR
One other thing - I'd LOVE to return to the coast, it's home to me. And perhaps when I'm out of the business I will. But, the best thing for me is to be here for two reasons: 1) UNLV offers me an education beyond a batchelors, where as my previous school USM does not. It's a fine school USM, they (the coast sattelite campus) just doesn't offer master's and doctorates, and I've held a 3.9 for too long to leave it with a bacthelor's. 2.) No offense, although the Beau is without question the gem of the south in terms of tokes, they don't do what Caesars does. And given I'd have to buy a different home or rent, the net result of less money and the coast's housing market would kill my net nargins. Don't get all pissy (you either Jambo). I'm not knocking the Beau - it's one of the best dealing gigs in the country. It's just Caesar's (Harrah's mangmt not witthstanding) is better (I'm talking money). Later.
FR
I want to add one thing to this. A "toke", or tip as civilians call it, is an atypical income. The amount and how often I receive it during my 8 hour shift has nothing to do with luck and almost nothing to do with the company. It's the experience, attitude and performance I render that gains me the bulk of my (and all dealers) income. It's a transaction that occurs between me and the guest and is NOT company provided revenue. Do you ever wonder why we have toke cutters? Because it's not the casinos damn money. IT'S OURS! Anyone who signs on to a job for a designated wage, then later goes on strike in order to get more - like the outrageously harmful (to our kids education) teachers union -is wrong and being intellectually dihonest. PERIOD. That's not what this is about. This is not a shake down for "more." It's protecting what is already MINE. It is my money that I earn independent of the casino's pay check. And they're considering stealing it from me to enhance their bottom line. And they have already done it at Wynn's, which is going to make their negotiations even tougher. When a clear and obvious wrong has been committed by the managment I am not opposed to a union in it's pure form. To say that you are opposed to a union in every cirumstance and in every situation just because their leaders donate to the DNC is silliness. Like I said, by and large the leadership of most unions have become poster boys for steering a justified organization into maddness with over the top demands and poltical donations without member consent. But there are instances when mgmt goes so far of the course - like attempting to claim money from me that they had no part in earning - that organizing in and of itself is justified. This beef, in this instance, is what in it's pure form a union is supposed to do - protect the employees from unjust practices, and lobby for "reasonable" accomodations (unlike the AWU or the teacher's union). Sorry, but any conservative that says all unions in every instance have been bad and bad for business is not familiar with history - or the quarterly earnings of Harrah's Inc which employs at least a half dozen different union groups. Now, subsequent to organizing it is up to the membership to vote in leaders that do not turn it into a poltical tool and a group of professional "whiners" whom increasingly demand unreasonable pay packages. Wal Mart is the largest employer in the US and has fended off EVERY attempt at unionization. How? They don't employ bent nose thugs at the door, popping people over the head with union pins on their lapel. They treat their employees right. Or right enough that they don't want to unionize. Harrah's failed at that by not coming out firmly against Wynn. And being treated "right" isn't even our beef - they are attempting to steal my groceries and my truck note. If there was ever a just reason to unionize - this would be it. As hard as that is to admit as a conservative, I must be honest - THIS is a legitamte beef that has NO chance of being negotiated in the shift office. What else are we to do? Move to MS and wait 3 years until the Beau does it too? I think not. And if we fail and this toke sharing policy succeeds the Mirage Corp WILL do this. And it won't be to add to the floor's salary. They'll restructure it so the company is paying the floor 50 bucks a day, and your tokes make up the other 150 (they make 200 a day out here). You're kidding yourself if you think otherwise. You and every other dealer better hope we stop this at the root.
FR
I say let the dealers at Wynn's strike, and the MGM and Harrah's folks should put up signs at the entrances and on all the tables that clearly and without ambiguity state:
NO TIPPING ALLOWED
That should answer the "union labor" question in a field that makes ALL its bread and butter on gratuities and tips, and if nothing else put the FEAR of GOD into the respective breakrooms and smoking areas.
Immature...man I don't think I've been called that in like 10 hours or so. Let me see if I can finish what I started.
STOP DRINKING THE KOOL-AID!!!!!
I'm not really sure where to start so I'll start where I left off. When I was talking about fossils I was refering to the ancient members of our dealing fraternity that are so burnt out that they couldn't entertain a rock. Don't tell me you don't see them because they are in every old casino in the city. Crochity old bastards that are so burnt you can't identify the reamains and they are standing right in front of you. I found them mildly entertaing only for the fact the every ten minutes like clock work you would here them say shit like "Well back in the day when I would for Jack we kept cigarettes on the table, I didn't have to write some Bullshit comp slip for a fucking pack of cigarettes". That being from one of my favorite fossil supervisors but you get the idea. Those fools have to go and with a union...YOU CAN'T.
The whole preemptive strike thing is a great concept if it wasn't for the fact that Harrahs hasn't given you any reason to beleive you need to bomb them yet. Sure they didn't come out and blast Wynn when he did something extraordinarily stupid but...hehe they don't have to. The Wynn is not their property and they don't have to. Corporations are designed to make profits and if they are making record profits then you have job security. That my friend is a fact. Oh ya and just so we have the facts straight the ruling that Steve Wynn used to go ahead with the travesty he instituted at his propery is one of the reasons I hate Las Vegas. He used a ruling that was basically one group of dealers screwing another group of dealers to get a piece of their tokes. I beleive it was 1974 at the Las Vegas Hilton, pit dealers wanting a piece of the Baccarat dealers tokes and suing their own people for tokes that they didn't earn. Look it up my friend, there is no loyalty among thieves and in the great big booming metropolis of Las Vegas greed is king and that includes your future union brothers and sisters at the Dealers Local of the TRANSPORTATION WORKERS UNION.
I understand you are doing what you beleive is best for your family and your education but let me point something out to you about your education. UNLV is expensive even when it is in state tuition. More expensive than its larger sister campus UNR. With traffic it could take you 45 mins to get to campus in the city and I think I have it right when I say University of South Alabama is a great school that is 45 mins away from the greater Biloxi area and Harrison and Jackson county residents get in state tuition there. I would also venture to guess that they would have your masters and PHD programs there and a fraction of the cost. You could live in Jackson county like I do and be even closer and still only be 20 mins from work. Sorry to bust your bubble on that one but like I said you are doing what you beleive is best for you and your family but being the father of 4 I wouldn't raise my children anywhere near Clark County Nevada. I have a Neice that is getting ready to graduate from UNR and a nephew that just graduated from one of Clark Counties finest High Schools (LOL). I'm not trying to beat you down for your decision, just reminding you that you have options if you should decide that Las Vegas is as big a shit hole as I described and believe it is.
Brother trust me when I wish you the best of luck in everything you do, I'm not kidding on that, and should you decide to return to the MS gulf coast at some future date please let me know and I will help where I can. We all have to make what we think is the best decisions for our families and you have made yours and I can appreciate that.
And on a final note, The money isn't that much better there than it is here and the cost of living although higher than it was still isn't as high as Las Vegas.
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