Big Gaming declares war on employees

With Big Gaming’s generals itching to sell out their foot soldiers (i.e., employees), it’s interesting—to say the least—that we’ve heard nothing from the Culinary Union or Unite-Here President D. Taylor except a loud chorus of … crickets. They’re rolling over and playing dead for the HEALS Act, which would grant blanket immunity to corporations against Covid-19-related carelessness, and it’s difficult to see the realpolitik at work. Incidentally, in addition to American Gaming Association President Bill Miller bashing away on Capitol Hill, the industry has opened up a second front in the Nevada Lege. The Nevada Resort Association is shrieking like an old maid about “frivolous litigation” (translation: any lawsuit that is filed against you) and seeking “targeted and limited safe harbor from liability for companies that implement strict public health guidelines related to the transmission of COVID-19.” Failure to accede “threatens the resort industry’s continued operations.” Yes, it’s Doomsday for Nevada casinos, according to the NRA. Wailed one (wisely) anonymous Strip exec, we face “disaster for the economy and Nevada’s workers, if businesses—large or small—were faced with the choice of operating responsibly or having to close in the face of litigation.” Since, in the words of the Las Vegas Sun, Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) has said the upcoming special session “will include measures to prevent businesses from taking further economic hits during the pandemic,” we can presume he’s already in the bag.