Board rejects Trump challenge to Vegas hotel union effort

LAS VEGAS – Workers at Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel scored a victory in their effort to unionize, although it could still be a long time before employees have a contract if managers choose to delay.

The National Labor Relations Board issued a decision Thursday rejecting Trump Ruffin Commercial LLC’s challenge of a December election in which a majority of the 447 votes cast favoured unionization. The ruling means the company has exhausted its appeals with the board.

“We are pleased with the NLRB ruling, once again reaffirming that the union election at the Trump Hotel Las Vegas was fair and is certified,” said Geoconda Arguello-Kline, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union, which represents the workers. “We look forward to starting contract negotiations so that workers can have fair wages, job security, and good health benefits.”

However, there could still be a long road before hotel managers are forced to the bargaining table with workers, according to labour law professor Ruben Garcia of UNLV’s Boyd School of Law. Garcia said if managers take no action, the board could charge them with failing to negotiate in good faith, but that battle could drag on through federal appeals courts and go as far as the U.S. Supreme Court.

Garcia said it’s rare that courts ultimately overturn union elections.

“Technically it’s an option available to the employer, but I think it’s an unlikely one to be successful,” he said.

Las Vegas’ powerful Culinary Union held a march down the Las Vegas Strip last week along with another large union, calling on Trump to give up the fight and negotiate a contract.

Hotel representatives didn’t have immediate comment on the labour board’s ruling on Thursday.