Anti-Union "Fence Sitter" wrote on February 20, 2008 01:43 AM: I generally don't like unions, but I can see and understand why dealers in Las Vegas are fed up. Maids, porters, cooks, bartenders, waitresses; everyone else is unionized, and their jobs are protected... yet the dealer is the one who is stuck at a table, forced to tolerate some of the most abhorrent behavior I've seen, and smile and be kind and deal out the hands on behalf of the "house" for minimum wage. This issue isn't about tipping; it's about their ability to Organize and protect their jobs and financial security for their families. Casinos make revenues hand over fist; when hard times (recession, etc) fall, they strip the benefits and wages of the dealer, oftentimes firing or laying off. These are the people that break their backs to make whiny losers have a good time with games they have no control over, but are "expected" to be a "dumptruck" & "let" people win... yet some don't feel the "need" to T.I.P... huh.
The acronym started as To Insure Promptness by waitresses ages ago; if she was fast and provided good service, she got a tip... the better, all the more. Nowadays people are too self-indulgent and impulsive, even while "enjoying" a live gaming table, but forget that the dealer's just doing his/her job; taking when you lose and paying when you win. If you can't afford the losses, you shouldn't play.
As for Steve Wynn; he thinks he made/owns LV and should have to back-pay his dealers for strong-arming them. Rather than take the "disparity" in pay from house profits (they don't exactly make nickels & dimes anymore), he instead STOLE from those who trusted him and took the job because of the honest, intelligent, businessman he was SUPPOSED to be. Turns out the first two adjectives were embellished.

dealer wrote on January 16, 2008 07:32 PM: I would like to know why dealers are only payed $6.15 an hour. They spend 100% of their time in front of customers all day. Why should union employees get payed twice as much as dealers? Do you think the companies take care of their dealers? They claim 100% of their tips in their paycheck. I heard of dealers working for the same company for 20 years and are only making 6-7 dollars an hour! That is just wrong. Does anyone else think this is wrong?

Atlanta Steve wrote on January 12, 2008 06:51 PM: I do not tip dealers for anything as they do not share in my losses when I lose. I also tip about half what I tip when I am at home. It is like everyone in Vegas EXPECTS me to give them a dollar. Tips are earned, not given. The last time I was in Vegas, I gave a guy who held the elevator for me a dollar. Seriously, if it takes more than 5 mins to get my car, you get notta. If it takes more than 3 mins to bring me a drink, you get notta. If my food is not right and the proper temp, you will get 10% if you are lucky. That being said, the "waiter's helper" has been know to receive a handshake with a something extra in it because he is the one who appears to be doing most of the work. You want a tip, do something, sing, dance, entertain me. You want a tip, EARN IT.

Boogeyman of LV wrote on January 11, 2008 11:37 PM: I don't blame the dealers for trying to organize. They are being mistreated, due to the fact that their employers can't touch all the money they are making. So what do these companies do to get a piece of the dealers pie? They are hiring them on as Part Time employees. This gives the property the ability to not have to provide health care. I would organize for this reason alone. These properties make more than enough money. Why do they feel the need to bring the dealers down? Because they can. It may have been a slow quarter, where can they make up the difference so the big dogs can take home their 50%+ bonuses. I say organize, organize, organize. It's your right as an American, take advantage of it. When you do organize, make sure your each working for your own tokes. Just don't hustle me, ha ha. This is only the beginning, I can't wait until the remaining departments join the march. These casino's are gaining way too much power. So again I say, "ORGANIZE"!!!

Lorie wrote on January 11, 2008 09:49 AM: I initially thought that Obama might be a reasonable candidate. However, after reading up on both Obama and his close personal friend and advisor, the Rev. Wright, I became extraordinarily concerned about the upcoming Presidential election.

Rev. Wright of the Trinity Church in Chicago is Obama's mentor, advisor and friend. So the question is not only what Barack Obama believes, but "what Reverend Wright believes" and how that will influence our country's well being if Obama is elected.

Please review the material below and make an informed decision when voting.

Web sites are noted below:

"Mr. Wright was making Trinity a social force, initiating day care, drug counseling, legal aid and tutoring. He was also interested in the world beyond his own; in 1984, he traveled to Cuba to teach Christians about the value of nonviolent protest and to Libya to visit Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, along with the Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. Mr. Wright said his visits implied no endorsement of their views." However, you must stop to consider why he chose those people and places, when at the time of the visit we considered Libya a "terrorist country".
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http://www.wral.com/golo/blogpost/2268074/
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http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2007/8/8/194812.shtml

These quotes are from Obama's "close personal friend and spiritual advisor." If Wright were just a casual friend of Obama I wouldn't be posting this information, however, I don't think we can separate Obama from the actions and quotes of his mentor.

Wright on 9/11: "White America got their wake-up call after 9/11. White America and the Western world came to realize people of color had not gone away, faded in the woodwork, or just disappeared as the Great White West kept on its merry way of ignoring black concerns." On the Sunday after the attacks, Dr. Wright blamed America.

Wright on the disappearance

lv dealer wrote on January 10, 2008 11:30 AM: I hope the comment made by Harry Reid wasn't by our Senator.That is one of the most stupid remarks I've ever heard. You pay dues, you don't give all your tips to the union. And to Douglas comps are already bad compared to what they used to be. You don't seem to care how much money the President of Harrahs is making. Sometimes I wish I made a salary so I wouldn't have to worry about people like you not tipping me. And to Ou812 I bet you tip the cocktail waitress and your food server who are unoin employees. you probably don't tip your deal anyway so we're really not losing anything.

dennis1944 wrote on January 08, 2008 06:30 PM: Blame your democratic "legislators" for the union organizing going on and the chief architect Steve Wynn who decided he could steal dealers gratuities and redistribute the money to his payroll department to supplement his floor supervisors paychecks that he wqasn't smart enough to pay them appropriate salaries He should have been arrested and charged with Grand Theft.

HARRY REID wrote on January 08, 2008 05:15 PM: Everyone, remember this, a tip to a dealer, now in Las Vegas, is money in the union's pocket!!!

Think before you tip!! The unions have always been known to be lazy, drunk, and stupid.

a proud, happy dealer wrote on January 08, 2008 03:00 PM: A Harrahs exec states that the company wants to work directly with employees. That means the company makes all the decisions, then issues a memo. Can you say “share your tokes”? If you don’t like it there’s the door. With a contract in place all decisions are made at the bargaining table with the union and the company agreeing. This is the protection a union contract affords its members.

Totally shocked said:
“the hotel will have enough backup workers to let you strike”
To LET us strike? A bargaining unit VOTES on a strike. They are not given permission from the company strike. You are a fearmonger, Totally shocked.

To Nonunion:
The wynn Dealers will not pay dues until they vote “yes” on a contract and it is in effect. This drive has cost them no money so far. And maybe the insurance won't be “better” but the company can’t change the coverage unless it is with the permission of the union. And what union did you belong to that ignored you? If it was in Nevada you could have stopped paying dues. WE are a right-to-work state.

To trained monkey:
I didn't see anyone imply that you can work as good as a union employee. You will have better protection from capricious company decisions though.

GradToo wrote on January 08, 2008 02:55 PM: I read about people saying they won't tip dealers if they are Union. What about the Union cocktail waitress who you wait to get a drink from? You tip her. What about the Union waiter? You tip him. What about the union maid? You tip her. What about the Union valet? You tip them.

The people who say they won't patronize a casino who's dealers are union are the same people who sneeze in the dealers face, who swear at the dealer when they lose, who blow smoke in the dealers face to see their reaction, who blame the dealer when they lose, who tips the dealer $1 when they win thousands from a dealer who has been through everything they put them through, and still smiled and said "good luck, hope you had a good time".

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