Doormen complain MGM-Uber relationship costs them tip money

By Thomas Moore

Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017 | 1:05 p.m.

Doormen at MGM Resorts International properties have filed a grievance over an alleged partnership the company has with Uber, claiming the relationship violates the union contract, costs doormen tip revenue and creates an unsafe environment at casino entrances.

The Las Vegas Sun has received documents that outline the doormen's complaints about Uber at MGM Grand. Several doormen (who spoke to the Las Vegas Sun on condition of anonymity) at other MGM properties said there is a larger push to address the issue.

On Monday, MGM Resorts International spokeswoman Mary Hynes acknowledged the company has received a grievance concerning its relationship with Uber. On Tuesday, Culinary Workers Union Local 226 spokeswoman Bethany Khan said the union is addressing the issue, though she did not use the term grievance.

According to the documents, the doormen have three issues with the MGM Grand management and Uber:

An MGM/Uber partnership. According to the documents, the collective bargaining agreement says doormen are supposed to help guests with any third-party transportation service with which the company has a partnership. The documents point to MGM company web pages touting Uber and signage placed at MGM entrances as proof a partnership exists.

Tip revenue. The documents also say the company is promoting the partnership with signage and discounts, and asking concierge, call center employees and other hotel staff to tell customers to use Uber. As a result, fewer customers are using taxi and limo service at the main entrance, costing the doormen tip revenue which the doormen count on as part of their income.

Safety and work environment. Because Uber drivers respond directly to passenger requests, they ignore the company policies and established traffic patterns (well-known by taxi and limo drivers) at casino entrances, doormen say in the documents. As a result, they say, doormen enforcing company policy have confrontations with Uber drivers.

While both the union and MGM acknowledged an issue has arisen with doormen and Uber at MGM properties entrances, neither elaborated on it.

In a statement Monday, Hynes said the company “will allow the grievance process, which provides the parties with the opportunity to work through any issues, to take its course.”

Khan released a brief statement on behalf of the union that read “The Culinary Union is currently investigating the effects Uber has on the unionized front entrance positions at casino resorts and hotels on the Las Vegas Strip and in downtown Las Vegas. This internal process is confidential, and we are working hard to protect the 1,660-plus door persons and bell persons we represent.”

Stephanie Sedlak, a spokeswoman for Uber, said the company had no comment about the grievances at this time.

Spokespeople for other Strip casinos either did not wish to comment on the subject or said the issue was not a problem at their properties.

Michael Weaver, a spokesperson for Wynn Resorts, where doormen are unionized, said management wasn’t aware of any issues with Uber and doormen and the topic hasn’t been the subject of any grievance.

A spokesperson for Las Vegas Sands, where doormen are not represented by a union, had no comment.

Because of Uber’s size and reach, and the fact that doormen in many areas of the country are represented by unions, the issue could have national implications.

“It’s a problem for hotels everywhere,” said John Turchiano, a spokesman with the New York Hotel Trades Council Local 6, which represents doormen in New York City. “Here in New York, we are looking at the problem and examining different options the union might want to consider.”