Category Archives: Labor

McKee vs. Lerner

Posted on August 3, 2009 by David McKee

Actually, the headline misstates what was a very collegial — if occasionally dissenting — exchange of views between Union Gaming Group's Bill Lerner and Yr. Humble Blogger on Jon Ralston's Face to Face show. It was only my second-ever gig … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Economy, International, Kansas, Labor, M Resort, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on McKee vs. Lerner

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 30, 2009 by David McKee

"Privé. Gibbons. Ensign. Rampant foreclosure. Half-built, hubristic casinos. Record unemployment. UFC. Mob Museum. Maybe Las Vegas 2009 is just Tom Wolfe's next novel." — Las Vegas Weekly Editor Scott Dickensheets, from Facebook.

Posted in Current, Downtown, Economy, Labor, Politics, Sports, Station Casinos, The Mob, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Double-whammy for Planet Ho

Posted on July 23, 2009 by David McKee

True, Planet Hollywood is feeling some pain in the wallet after the Nevada Gaming Commission approved a $500,000 fine. But it's Clark County Department of Business License which fired the shot across the bow that will really get the casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Downtown, Economy, Labor, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on Double-whammy for Planet Ho

A-Yem to the rescue

Posted on June 19, 2009 by David McKee

“No corporate liposuction.” With those words, new Tropicana Las Vegas CEO Alex Yemenidjian not only coined the catchphrase of the year, he implicitly repudiated the policies of forerunner William J. Yung III, whose Columbia Sussex modus operandi was to solve … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Columbia Sussex, Current, Downtown, Election, Entertainment, Labor, Regulation, Tamares Group, The Strip | Comments Off on A-Yem to the rescue

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 8, 2009 by David McKee

"From a purely employment standpoint, I think we are already in overcorrection territory. How long can you sustain that lower standard of employment before you really start to impact customer service?" — Jeremy Aguero of Applied Analysis, pointing out that … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Economy, Labor, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

By request …

Posted on June 1, 2009 by David McKee

A reader from the heartland of this great country wanted to know whether LVA HQ provided a good vantage point for a United Way car wash at The Rio last Friday. Since I have but an obstructed view of The … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Charity, Harrah's, Labor, The Strip | Comments Off on By request …

First, some good news

Posted on April 16, 2009 by David McKee

In a refreshing change of pace comes news of a casino that’s on schedule for its opening. OK, so it’s in Dodge City, Kansas, but we’ll take good news wherever we can get it these days. Whoever thought avionics firm … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Herbst Gaming, Kansas, Labor, LVCVA, Marketing, Mesquite, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Strip | Comments Off on First, some good news

Case Bets: MGM Mirage, Harrah's, Wynn, Shuffle Master, Taxes

Posted on March 17, 2009 by David McKee

As we wait for the MGM Mirage earnings report, signs of desperation mount. If the company is willing to cast away a pearl like new, costly and high-yielding MGM Grand Detroit, what isn’t sacred? Not even the corporate jet, provided … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Detroit, Economy, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Labor, Lake Tahoe, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Pinnacle Entertainment, Shuffle Master, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off on Case Bets: MGM Mirage, Harrah's, Wynn, Shuffle Master, Taxes

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 15, 2009 by David McKee

"For a casino worker, every day breathing second-hand smoke in the workplace is one too many. Everyone has the right to breathe smoke-free air — regardless of the color of their collar." — Americans for Nonsmokers Rights Executive Director Cynthia … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Illinois, Labor, Regulation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 15, 2009 by David McKee

"For a casino worker, every day breathing second-hand smoke in the workplace is one too many. Everyone has the right to breathe smoke-free air — regardless of the color of their collar." — Americans for Nonsmokers Rights Executive Director Cynthia … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Illinois, Labor, Regulation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 10, 2008 by David McKee

“It really wasn’t about a quarter. It was really a matter of understanding the slot payout tables.” — Boyd Gaming spokesman Rob Stillwell, on the subject of a 25-cent dispute that began at The Orleans and ended in front of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Labor, Regulation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

More Trop tomfoolery

Posted on September 16, 2008 by David McKee

Justice Gary Stein's trusteeship of the Atlantic City Tropicana continues its slide toward disaster. The UAW has filed a charge with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing Stein of a lack of good-faith bargaining. Stein has said in the past … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Labor, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on More Trop tomfoolery

MTR in retreat

Posted on July 7, 2008 by David McKee

If MTR Gaming is still afloat today, it’s almost certainly thanks to the fact that its two remaining casinos — racinos in Chester, W.V., and Erie, Penn., enjoy oligopolistic market conditions where competitors are few and far between. A long … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Downtown, Labor, Pennsylvania, The Strip | Comments Off on MTR in retreat

Golden Gate update

Posted on April 9, 2008 by David McKee

Per a previous item about the Golden Gate‘s plan to remake itself as a boutique hotel, I wondered about the status of its Culinary Union contract. Not to worry: According to the union’s political director, Pilar Weiss, the two parties … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Labor, Tamares Group | Comments Off on Golden Gate update

The Westin scandal …

Posted on April 4, 2008 by David McKee

… is growing legs. No, not these kind of legs. (Well, that too.) It’s also unearthed another strange-but-true story of business as usual at Columbia Sussex. That $25/bedbug bounty at the Trop is unwontedly generous by ColSux standards — a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Downtown, Harrah's, International, Labor, Politics, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on The Westin scandal …