protective measures and putting employees at risk of illness and death during the coronavirus pandemic<\/strong>.<\/p>\nCulinary Union executive Geoconda Arg\u00fcello-Kline called it a victory to drop legal proceedings against the owner of the Bellagio resort and the Signature Condominiums towers and begin \u201cexpedited arbitration\u201d involving the company and a board representing culinary and bartenders union members.<\/p>\n
MGM Resorts on Tuesday called the court filing \u201cfrivolous\u201d and noted the union action came just ahead of a court-imposed deadline and after the company filed a legal challenge, the Associated Press<\/em> reports.\u00a0<\/p>\n\u201cWe hope that the Culinary Union will work collaboratively with us in the future when it comes to health and safety issues,\u201d the casino owner said.<\/p>\n
The unions\u2019 Local Joint Executive Board did not drop its claims against Caesars Entertainment<\/strong>, operator of Harrah\u2019s Las Vegas, based on accounts from an employee at an eatery there.
<\/br>The unions allege Caesars only \u201cencouraged\u201d instead of required hotel guests and casino gamblers to use masks and facial coverings to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 respiratory illness.<\/p>\nCaesars Entertainment officials did not immediately respond Tuesday to messages.<\/p>\n
The lawsuit filed June 20 sought a court order under federal collective bargaining law to force the companies to tighten safety measures.<\/p>\n
Four days later, on June 24, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak issued a mandatory face-covering policy for anyone in \u201cany generally publicly accessible space\u201d including casinos and other businesses.<\/p>\n
The unions, representing hotel housekeepers, cooks, bartenders, vehicle valets and others, want the state Legislature to pass a law requiring coronavirus protection measures.<\/p>\n
They call for enhanced cleaning procedures and safety training; enforcement of social distance requirements; free virus testing for employees called back to work or exposed to someone with COVID-19; temperature checks to detect fever symptoms of illness; and detailed plans for when a worker contracts the virus.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n