Seminole Gaming CEO and President of Hard Rock International, Jim Allen, on the implementation of coronavirus security measures and the relocation of the Hard Rock location in Las Vegas.
Hospitality workers on the Las Vegas Strip filed a lawsuit against casino operators on Monday accusing companies of failing to protect Covid-19 employees, one of the first efforts to hold employers legally responsible for the infections as cases increase in the U.S.
The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court in Las Vegas against the owners of Harrah’s, MGM Grand and Bellagio casinos, says that the companies did not immediately close food and beverage outlets and other areas after learning of it. of positive cases. Immediately inform employees when coworkers tested positive and did not adequately follow up on the contact before allowing colleagues of infected employees to return to work.
THE LAS VEGAS STRIP RETURNS FROM CORONAVIRUS WITH LESS OF ITS REMARKABLE EXCESS
Culinary Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, through their joint negotiating agency, filed suit against Harrah’s Las Vegas LLC, a subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment Corp., and The Signature Condominiums LLC at MGM Grand and Bellagio LLC, subsidiaries of MGM Resorts International.
The lawsuit says unsafe working conditions violate the union contract. Unions represent 60,000 hospitality workers.
WEARING A CORONAVIRUS FACE MASK IN VEGAS STRIP MAY WIN $ 20
In response to the lawsuit, MGM Resorts said the company has offered workers free tests before returning to work and requires tests for anyone with symptoms or who may have been exposed. The managers have been trained in response protocols and work closely with public health officials to search for contracts after positive test results, according to the company.
Caesars did not immediately comment.
Senate Republicans and the Trump administration have lobbied to protect companies from liability during the coronavirus pandemic as a condition of the next round of aid to homes and businesses. American companies have raised concerns about litigation as workers become ill or die from Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. The US Chamber of Commerce has said that the risk of class action and other lawsuits could discourage companies from reopening.
Las Vegas casinos were able to reopen June 4 with voluntary masks for the guests. Three weeks later, after calls from union workers, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak ordered anyone inside the casinos to cover their faces starting June 26.
Nevada reported 734 new cases Monday, with a total of 17,894 cases and 504 deaths.
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Sixto Zermeno, a 10-year-old signature at MGM Grand bellhop who is in the lawsuit, said when he was called to return to work, the hotel was understaffed and the guests had no social distance or wore masks. On June 10, he was tested for Covid-19 after having a fever and headache, and the next day he learned that it was positive.
He said it was difficult to reach management to report his case, and after alerting MGM Resorts’ corporate office, the company did not immediately shutdown the bellhop and the valet service where he worked. The bellboys and valets who were working shift shifts with him continued to interact with the guests, according to the lawsuit.
“We are not just numbers,” Zermeno said at a press conference on Monday. “We are also families. We are human. I just want you to care, honestly. “
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At least three valet and buttons from The Signature have tested positive, according to the lawsuit.
It also says Harrah did not respond adequately when a food broker at Guy Fieri Vegas Kitchen and Bar, co-managed by Harrah’s, tested positive.
Nineteen union workers or their dependents have died from Covid-19, according to the union.
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