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Labor: Wynn plan bad bet

Hotel unions fail to get pact with Las Vegas gaming giant seeking Aqueduct racino
JAMES M. ODATO Capitol burea, Times Union
By JAMES M. ODATO Capitol bureau


ALBANY — Hotel unions seeking to organize a proposed Aqueduct racino have given Las Vegas gaming magnate Steve Wynn a failing grade after talks about his plans for the project.

Union operators recommend the selection of another bidder if the state wants to avoid strikes and pickets at the proposed Queens operation, which is eligible for $250 million in building aid from the state to build the facility.

Wynn was the only bidder of the six contenders to receive a bad grade, said Peter Ward, president of the 30,000 member New York Hotel Trades Council.

SL Green, Delaware North and Aqueduct Entertainment Group passed the council's test by entering into labor peace agreements, said Ward in a letter sent to Gov. David Paterson on Wednesday. Penn National and Don Peebles/MGM got incompletes after talks with the union leaders.

Wynn earned a low grade after he rejected binding arbitration, a key union objective, Ward said.

"Wynn expressed philosophical opposition to certain core elements of a satisfactory agreement, which are included in the agreements reached with AEG, SL Green, and Delaware North," Ward said. "It has been almost a week since the Wynn team has contacted us and at this point we do not have a satisfactory agreement in place."

Neal Kwatra, political director for the council, said unions have been discussing an agreement with Kim Sinatra, Wynn Resorts' chief lawyer, but she said the company cannot agree to binding arbitration — a provision that helps unions secure contracts.

"That's the heart and soul of the agreement, the only assurance that there is labor peace," he said. Sinatra and Wynn's Albany representatives did not return calls. Paterson's office had no comment.

It is unclear what impact the labor issue will have on Paterson's deliberations, because the criteria for choosing the winning bidder has not been revealed.

"One piece certainly is the job factor, union and non-union factor, construction and non-construction," said Sen. Joseph Addabbo, D-Queens, who has mixed feelings about Wynn's plans for the track. "Unfortunately, he's never done anything in New York and he's learning the hard way that it's a union town."

The governor, with the agreement of legislative leaders, is expected to render a decision around Sept. 29 when the Legislature is expected to return to Albany to discuss the state's $2.1 billion budget shortfall.

The Aqueduct video lottery terminal racino is expected to produce hundreds of millions of dollars annually to the state for public education.



Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Labor-Wynn-plan-bad-bet-546017.php#ixzz1my23KsV7