Trump International Hotel objects to workers’ unionizing vote

By Sally Ho, Associated Press

Published Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015 | 2:34 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015 | 3:49 p.m.

Trump International Hotel has contested an election in which workers narrowly voted to unionize at the Las Vegas property owned by the Republican presidential front-runner, labor officials said Wednesday.

Trump Ruffin Commercial LLC took the action on Monday before the votes are certified, the National Labor Relations Board said.

The election held Dec. 4 and 5 ended with just over 50 percent of the counted votes in favor of a union at the property off the Las Vegas Strip. There were 447 valid votes.

The Culinary Union said in a statement it wasn't surprised by the hotel's objection and urged Trump to begin contract negotiations for its 523 full-time, part-time and on-call employees in guest services, housekeeping, food and beverage.

"We voted yes to make our jobs good jobs with fair wages and job security," Celia Vargas, a housekeeper, said in the union statement. "We won that vote, so our voices and votes should be respected."

A statement from Eric Trump, the company's executive vice president of development and acquisitions and a son of Donald Trump, said substantial evidence has been submitted to the NLRB as part of the objection.

"We will continue to fight to ensure that our valued associates are given the opportunity to vote and owe it to the over 200 employees who stood up and categorically rejected union representation due, in large part, to the union's many hostile, intimidating and dishonorable tactics," Eric Trump said.

A hearing is scheduled Jan. 5 in Las Vegas.