Columnist Jeff German: Culinary gears up for opening night battle with Venetian

Uncertainty over when the Venetian megaresort will open isn't stopping its nemesis, the Culinary Union, from preparing to do battle.

The union has been passing out fliers on the Strip and downtown to thousands of its members inviting them to "a gala outdoor celebration on the Venetian sidewalk."

That same flier, which displays a photo of billionaire Venetian owner Sheldon Adelson with his head in the clouds, is being mailed this week to state and local elected officials, including Gov. Kenny Guinn, who might be asked to attend the Venetian's opening.

But it's a party so far that has no date. The Venetian, hit by alleged fire safety problems, has declined to say exactly when it will open its doors. Some say the date has been pushed back to the end of the month. There also has been talk the Venetian now may be planning a soft opening with little fanfare.

The union flier, meanwhile, tells those wishing to join the sidewalk demonstration to "stay tuned" for an update on the planned festivities.

Then it concludes: "Reserve your space now. Sidewalk space is limited."

The Venetian is hoping there'll be no space at all. It has filed suit in federal court seeking an order declaring its sidewalks private so that it can prohibit all union demonstrations. An April 19 hearing has been set in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Philip Pro.

Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Jim Arnold acknowledges the lack of an opening date is making it tough to invite national figures to the massive rally. High on the celebrity guest list are the Rev. Jesse Jackson, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney and Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., who participated in a sidewalk demonstration at the Venetian last month.

But Arnold adds: "We'll be ready at a moment's notice. We'll be prepared whatever date is set."

Arnold predicts the opening night rally will be the first of many at the Venetian in the ongoing labor dispute that is sure to attract national attention.

"We're going to be in it for the long haul," he says. "Everything we've fought for in the last 12 years is at stake."

That includes the comfortable standard of living for the union's 46,000 members, he says.

The union wants Adelson to give it a level playing field at the Venetian so that it can organize his workers. But Adelson, who contends he's offering a wage and benefit package superior to the union's, has indicated he won't be bullied into doing that.

Hence the standoff.

As the battle comes to a head, there will be intense pressure on elected officials to take up sides. Officials will have to decide whether to back Adelson and his big bucks or the Culinary Union and its political muscle.

It won't be an easy decision for some.

The Culinary Union has proven it has the people power to end the political careers of its enemies. And Adelson has demonstrated he's willing to spend as much as it takes to make life difficult for his adversaries on the campaign trail.

Arnold, meanwhile, is leaving little doubt about which side of the battle line he believes elected officials should be standing on opening night.

"Any decent politician who cares about working men and women in this community will understand our position and what we have to do, and I think they'll respect that," Arnold says.

Translated that means the union is expecting officials to either join them on the sidewalks or stay away from the opening night activities altogether.

For Guinn, the decision to stay home probably will be easy. The governor didn't receive campaign support from Adelson last year, and he has since established friendly ties to the Culinary Union.

Guinn also can look to the precedent set by former Gov. Bob Miller, who led a contingent of officials who refused to cross a Culinary picket line during the opening of the labor-torn MGM Grand.

The MGM resolved its differences with the union a couple of years later after Terry Lanni replaced anti-union ideologue Bob Maxey as chairman. But nobody is expecting as quick an end to the hostilities at the Venetian.

This war is likely to continue as long as Adelson wants it to continue.

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