In her ruling, Navarro cited evidence that Station Casinos’ then-newly hired human resources vice president Phil Fortino launched the health and welfare and benefits program just ahead of a December 2019 union representation election that the Culinary lost in a 627 to 534 vote. In a statement, the Culinary Union said the labor group had never been granted such an order in its 86 years. She issued a 10(j) bargaining order, mandating the company recognize the Culinary and its affiliated Bartenders Union as official bargaining representatives.
In her ruling, Navarro suggested the NLRB’s regional director would likely prevail in a trial in front of the national board.
District Court Judge Gloria Navarro agreed with arguments by the National Labor Relations Board’s regional office that the casino operator’s announcement of a new incentives and benefits package for employees was timed to interfere with the union election at the company’s flagship property in Summerlin. A federal judge in Las Vegas has ordered Station Casinos to negotiate a contract with the Culinary Union that covers more than 1,350 non-gaming employees at the company’s Red Rock Resort, despite workers voting down the representation nearly 18 months ago.
