LAS VEGAS CASINOS CAN ILL AFFORD UNION DEALERS
RON LODGE
President,Las Vegas Gaming Consultants
Ron Lodge is currently President at Las Vegas Gaming Consultants, a gaming consultancy comprised of former Las Vegas gaming executives. He was previously a Senior Marketing Executive with the Venetian Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas until 2003. Mr. Lodge oversaw marketing development... Full Profile
Where will this disturbance between Steve Wynn and the dealers at Wynn Las Vegas end up? The real issue here is why Mr. Wynn decided to take away income from his front line people and give it away to mid management. The dealers are like a host for customers.... Read More
Where will this disturbance between Steve Wynn and the dealers at Wynn Las Vegas end up? The real issue here is why Mr. Wynn decided to take away income from his front line people and give it away to mid management. The dealers are like a host for customers. There is more to their job then tossing cards. It's the dealer that keeps players at a particular game - not the supervisors. Why offend them by cutting into their income and passing it on to others. This could have a serious affect on the entire industry as this policy could certainly lead to union affiliation.
It's not difficult to see the reasoning behind dealers at the Wynn Las Vegas considering joining a union. To be very frank, the thought of unions for dealers has been a NO NO in the industry for all the history of Nevada gaming. The real rub of this dispute is why Steve Wynn thought he could get away with taking from one group of employees and giving part of their income to mid management. He has been vindicated by the gaming commission, however the very poor decisions made in this case defies the judgement. It does not seem as though Wynn LV had financial problems, so why not just increase the salaries of those he felt were in need. This is not a Robin Hood adventure - taking from the rich and giving to the poor. It's outright stealing income to satisfy mid management. The decision to keep this formula intact makes no sense and could certainly come up to bite them.
Mr. Wynn has been know to fly off the handle from time to time. He is an intimidator, however, previously for good reasons. This is a case of poor decision making and not being the big man on campus and rescinding this move on his dealers. If the accusation of his temper is correct - the employees involved need some insurance against possible future termination. The threat of unionization is now a matter of some interest throughout the Las Vegas gaming industry. It could spell some serious financial problems for some properties here. Why the need to let this problem get this far - admit you are wrong on this matter, have it corrected and go on your way. A Very hard thing for Wynn to admit he may have made a mistake in this matter. Ego-Ego-Ego. Maybe it's time for him to soften his image and make his employees his main concern. He says that all the dealers are replaceable, maybe and maybe not. There is no doubt that he does not want to go to those extremes.
Mr. Wynn has been know to fly off the handle from time to time. He is an intimidator, however, previously for good reasons. This is a case of poor decision making and not being the big man on campus and rescinding this move on his dealers. If the accusation of his temper is correct - the employees involved need some insurance against possible future termination. The threat of unionization is now a matter of some interest throughout the Las Vegas gaming industry. It could spell some serious financial problems for some properties here. Why the need to let this problem get this far - admit you are wrong on this matter, have it corrected and go on your way. A Very hard thing for Wynn to admit he may have made a mistake in this matter. Ego-Ego-Ego. Maybe it's time for him to soften his image and make his employees his main concern. He says that all the dealers are replaceable, maybe and maybe not. There is no doubt that he does not want to go to those extremes.
Wynn has always had the full loyalty of his employees. It looks like this is one time he may have made a very poor decision - it could certainly come up and bite him.
The industry looks to Steve Wynn for his innovated methods - he has always been way ahead of the curve. I feel that if unions come to the ranks of the dealers his reputation as a great decision maker and leader will take a hard hit. This could place a very real financial burden on gaming houses in this area - it's just not in the best interest of the hotels. Please understand that Steve is within his rights to set this policy up for his hotels - it's a very real moral issue and although he must consider it only a business decision - he needs to take a second look at what he is doing to his employees. They are, after all, the heart of his business............
Feb. 28, 2007
In lawsuit, Wynn dealers accuse chief of losing temper
By BENJAMIN SPILLMAN
REVIEW-JOURNAL Two card dealers have filed lawsuits accusing Steve Wynn of losing his temper and launching into a tirade during a meeting with employees to discuss a new tip-sharing policy at Wynn Las Vegas.
Cynthia Fields and Tynisia Boone filed the lawsuit in Clark County District Court.
In lawsuit, Wynn dealers accuse chief of losing temper
By BENJAMIN SPILLMAN
REVIEW-JOURNAL Two card dealers have filed lawsuits accusing Steve Wynn of losing his temper and launching into a tirade during a meeting with employees to discuss a new tip-sharing policy at Wynn Las Vegas.
Cynthia Fields and Tynisia Boone filed the lawsuit in Clark County District Court.
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An attorney for Wynn said he will fight the lawsuit. Boone and Fields declined to comment, and Sharon Nelson, the Las Vegas attorney representing the women, did not return a call for comment.
The lawsuits each seek damages exceeding $10,000 for personal and emotional injury and pain and suffering.
The lawsuits are in addition to charges the women filed with the National Labor Relations Board accusing Wynn Las Vegas of intimidating, disciplining and firing people who spoke out against changes to the tip policy.
"Those suits have no merit," said attorney Gregory Kamer of the Las Vegas law firm Kamer Zucker Abbott, who is defending Wynn. "And they will be defended vigorously."
According to the lawsuits, Wynn lost his temper during an Oct. 30 meeting of about 15 dealers and several executives from Wynn Las Vegas. The meeting included a discussion about a company decision to add supervisors to the pool of people who share dealers' tips.
The policy change was controversial because dealers said it would reduce their earnings as much as 20 percent. It drew protests in front of Wynn Las Vegas by dealers at other casinos and their families who feared other companies would follow Wynn's lead.
Wynn executives said the change was justified because dealers at the upscale resort were earning more money than their supervisors, creating an imbalance that made it it difficult to recruit supervisors.
During the meeting, the lawsuits allege, Wynn lost his temper after one of the dealers suggested there were ways to increase the pay for supervisors without diluting the tip pool.
The lawsuits say Wynn "slammed his fists so hard on the table that water glasses fell to the floor."
They go on to say that Fields tried to explain she was a single mother and would be "severely negatively affected" by the policy change.
" ... Wynn became even more enraged, began to gesture wildly at (Fields) and yelled in her face that he was 'the most powerful man in Nevada' " and said all 600 dealers were replaceable, according to the lawsuits.
Fields was later dismissed and protested the dismissal with the NLRB, which hasn't issued a ruling. Boone's lawsuit says she received unwarranted discipline and a suspension. She also protested to the NLRB.
The lawsuits each seek damages exceeding $10,000 for personal and emotional injury and pain and suffering.
The lawsuits are in addition to charges the women filed with the National Labor Relations Board accusing Wynn Las Vegas of intimidating, disciplining and firing people who spoke out against changes to the tip policy.
"Those suits have no merit," said attorney Gregory Kamer of the Las Vegas law firm Kamer Zucker Abbott, who is defending Wynn. "And they will be defended vigorously."
According to the lawsuits, Wynn lost his temper during an Oct. 30 meeting of about 15 dealers and several executives from Wynn Las Vegas. The meeting included a discussion about a company decision to add supervisors to the pool of people who share dealers' tips.
The policy change was controversial because dealers said it would reduce their earnings as much as 20 percent. It drew protests in front of Wynn Las Vegas by dealers at other casinos and their families who feared other companies would follow Wynn's lead.
Wynn executives said the change was justified because dealers at the upscale resort were earning more money than their supervisors, creating an imbalance that made it it difficult to recruit supervisors.
During the meeting, the lawsuits allege, Wynn lost his temper after one of the dealers suggested there were ways to increase the pay for supervisors without diluting the tip pool.
The lawsuits say Wynn "slammed his fists so hard on the table that water glasses fell to the floor."
They go on to say that Fields tried to explain she was a single mother and would be "severely negatively affected" by the policy change.
" ... Wynn became even more enraged, began to gesture wildly at (Fields) and yelled in her face that he was 'the most powerful man in Nevada' " and said all 600 dealers were replaceable, according to the lawsuits.
Fields was later dismissed and protested the dismissal with the NLRB, which hasn't issued a ruling. Boone's lawsuit says she received unwarranted discipline and a suspension. She also protested to the NLRB.
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