NLRB files complaint against Rio

The National Labor Relations Board has filed a complaint against the Rio resort after finding evidence that the hotel-casino might have threatened workers about union activities.

Representatives of the nonunion Rio and its parent company, Harrah's Entertainment, denied any wrongdoing.

The investigation began in early April after organizers for Culinary Local 226 documented what they characterized as 143 illegal acts by 44 managers at the off-Strip gaming property.

The union is attempting to organize about 3,000 food servers, chefs, housekeepers and bartenders, among others, at the 5,000-employee property, which Harrah's Entertainment purchased last year.

The union charges that immigrant workers have been targeted by management.

The NLRB complaint filed June 30 is scheduled to go before an administrative law judge for an Oct. 23 hearing.

The judge could order the Rio to reinstate with back pay and interest two workers who have been fired, while halting any practices that it concludes violated federal labor laws. Any ruling could be appealed to the full labor relations board, followed by the U.S. Court of Appeals and, ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court.

"We have investigated all of the allegations presented in that filing," said Rio President Jay Sevigny. "The individuals who were named in those claims have all denied the conduct of which they are accused."

The Rio has hired Mark Garrity to lobby against the organizing push. Garrity has worked for a variety of Las Vegas hotels since the mid-1980s to defeat unionization efforts.

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