• 10 casinos targeted

• Workers have been without contracts for more than a year

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• Negotiations still on; workers okayed a strike

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — After voting overwhelmingly to authorize a strike two weeks ago, union workers picketed 10 downtown casinos and two other establishments Sat., April 12 to speed up contract negotiations with property owners.

The pickets were held from noon to 2 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., according to officials of the workers’ union, the Culinary Workers Union, Local 226.

Picketed were The Plaza, Binion’s, Golden Nugget, Four Queens, Las Vegas Club, Main Street Station, El Cortez, Fremont, Golden Gate, and the D.

Pickets were also staged at Margaritaville at the Flamingo Las Vegas and Brady Laundries, which services many resorts on the Strip.

Junio Evasco from Laguna and an 18-year worker at the Golden Nugget said he would likely join the picket, along with his Filipino co-workers.

“We have to fight to keep our jobs and benefits,” Evasco said. “Even our overtime has been consistently cut over the years.”

Union workers are asking for health benefits, better wages and a guaranteed workweek. The affected properties represent about 10,000 union workers.

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“This is the next step in us getting ready to go on strike,” said union spokeswoman Bethany Khan. “This is an informational picket, letting the public and customers know there’s an active labor dispute at these properties.”

She said the union and the property owners have been in negotiations for a year-and-a-half.

The union also set up a location for workers to sign up for strike benefits and strike picket shifts between Four Queens and The D, Khan said. Late last month, the workers voted 99 percent to authorize a strike should the two sides not reach an agreement.

Workers from Strip properties, which have settled contract agreements with the union, join in the picket to support downtown employees.

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