No voting pressure on resort security

William Kearns, Henderson

Thursday, April 24, 2008 | 2:02 a.m.

I am writing in response to an article published Monday in the Las Vegas Sun regarding unions and MGM Mirage. I am a security officer at Luxor and have been employed in this position for nine years. The security forces at Las Vegas resorts are not “guards,” as we were called by your reporter, but highly trained officers who provide the resorts with needed protection so they can provide their guests with the best possible customer service.

Next, we do not carry a 6-inch wooden stick. What I have on my duty belt are the necessary tools to carry out my assignment as required and keep our guests, fellow employees and the property as safe as possible.

In response to the “carrots and sticks,” let me state that no one from management has said a word to me, or to any other officer I have talked to, about how to vote in reference to the upcoming union election.

We have had numerous meetings with Luxor President Felix Rappaport and the executive staff in the past few weeks regarding staffing, training, overtime, etc. But no threats or promises were made at any time. As a matter of fact, the opposite is true.

Time and again we have been advised to make up our own minds and vote based on what we believe would be best for us and our security department.