Worker Station: Seniority

Posts categorized "Seniority"

Oops, Stations Did It Again – The Union Sets the Record Straight

Station Casinos has falsely said numerous times that there are 10,000 union members who are out of work because of the economy. The company is spreading misinformation not only to its workers, but to the Las Vegas media and the larger community. Yes, our membership has been affected by layoffs, but the number is roughly half the number Station’s has reported and many who are on layoff status are actually working reduced hours, which can be anywhere from a couple days a month to several days a week.

Station Casinos is not only providing false information, it is failing to point out that there is a world of difference for a worker who is laid off at a union property compared to a worker laid-off from Station Casinos.

When a worker is laid off from Station Casinos they are essentially fired and have no right whatsoever to get their job back. Their benefits may run out at the end of the month. Also, it is completely up to management who is laid off, which means a worker with 20 years of seniority could be laid off before a worker with six months of seniority in the company.

When a worker is laid off from a union property, they are laid off in order of seniority. In addition, as business picks up, the company must recall laid-off workers in order of seniority before they can hire someone off the street. In other words, workers with the least amount of time with the company are laid off first and those with the most are brought back first. Laid-off workers from union properties have these rights for up to two years following a layoff.

Laid-off union workers also keep their health benefits for four months. After that, if they are not working at all or are on reduced hours, they can either self-pay to maintain their benefits or sign up for the union’s Life Saver plan, a low-cost, limited basic health plan that costs $75 a month.

Layoffs at Station Casinos vs. Union Casinos

	Station Casinos	Union Casinos
Layoffs by Seniority	No	Yes
Recall by Seniority	No	Yes
Recall Rights – the right to return to your job before someone is hired off the street	No	Up to Two Years
Health Insurance	Until the end of the month or up to two months at the discretion of management	Continues for four months and ability to self-pay to continue coverage or pay $75 a month for a limited, basic plan

Posted on March 9, 2010 in Benefits, Health Insurance, Job Security, Layoffs, Seniority | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Union Contracts Protect Las Vegas Casino Workers in These Tough Economic Times

Gaming revenues are down all over in Las Vegas. Companies with big debt loads like Station Casinos and Harrah’s are under significant pressure. Even companies with less debt are struggling. However, casino workers with union contracts have far better protections than their non-union counterparts when navigating these difficult economic times:

Union workers continue to have free family health insurance.
Union workers can still expect a decent pension as companies continue to make contributions to the union pension fund.
Union workers cannot be fired arbitrarily and can file a grievance if they think they have been treated unfairly.
Management cannot cut union workers’ hours at will.
Union casinos cannot save money by subcontracting workers’ jobs.
If a union casino is sold, the new owner not only buys the workers, they buy their union contract. If a union casino falls into bankruptcy, the company has to negotiate with the union if it wants to modify the contract. If the union and the company cannot reach an agreement, the casino can ask the bankruptcy judge for permission to change the contract. Both the union and the casino are able to argue their case before the judge.
Laid-off union workers continue their health benefits for four months. After that they have the option to self-pay to maintain their benefits or get on the Life Saver health plan. The Life Saver health plan is an affordable, limited, basic health plan for members who have been laid off or had their hours reduced and their covered dependents.
Laid-off union workers also have two-year recall rights, which is important in these economic times. It may take a while for the economy to recover. When the companies open positions, laid-off union workers, by seniority, will have the right to return to their jobs for up to two years.

Posted on February 4, 2010 in Benefits, Health Insurance, Job Security, Layoffs, Seniority, Successorship | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Diane on Benefits and Job Security

Posted on December 4, 2009 in 401(k), Benefits, Health Insurance, Job Security, Layoffs, Pension, Retirement, Seniority | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Job Security

Because we have a union contract, Culinary workers and Bartenders enjoy a great deal of job security. For example:

Rights on the Job. Workers cannot be fired arbitrarily and can file a grievance if they think they've been disciplined or terminated unfairly. At Station Casinos, you are at the mercy of the company and can be fired at any time without any good reason.
Guaranteed Work. For many classifications, most workers are guaranteed to get full-time work and full-time pay (typically 40 hours a week). They can be sent home early only if they agree. At Station Casinos, you can be scheduled for as little as one or two shifts a week and can even be sent home early at any time.
Seniority. Workers with the most experience are the first in line when new and more lucrative openings are up for bids. At Station Casinos, you can lose your shift or a chance at a better shift to someone who has no experience but knows the manager, no matter how long you've worked for the company.
Layoff and recall. When there is a layoff, workers with the most experience are laid off last and they are also called back to work first.
Successorship. If your casino is sold to a new owner, the new owner has to buy your union contract and cannot simply fire all the existing workers.
Guaranteed annual raises. Every contract lays out how much total compensation is to be increased every year for the duration of the contract (typically five years).