Nevada Teacher’s Union Says Suit Is About Fairness For All Workers (disenfranchise workers)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/7693

By Doug Cunningham

The Nevada Education Association says its lawsuit against the state Democratic Party over special at-large precincts in casino resorts is not a proxy war between the Obama and Clinton camps. The NEA has not endorsed any candidate. The suit alleges that setting up special at-large precincts in Vegas casino resorts breaks Nevada state law and the federal equal protection clause by giving workers there an unfair advantage over other workers in the upcoming Democratic presidential caucus. The Culinary Workers Union represents hotel casino workers and it’s supporting Barack Obama. The Secretary Treasurer of the Culinary Workers says the suit is an effort to disenfranchise people of color. But Terry Hickman, Executive Director of the Nevada Education Association, says that’s not true.

: “We're not looking to disenfranchise anyone. This is all about fairness and giving everyone an opportunity. And we hope that the party will be able to work this out so that everybody will be given an opportunity to participate. We don't think that special caucus sites should be limited to just a few."

The special at-large precincts make it easier for members of the Culinary workers union to vote, since they can vote where they work rather than having to return to home precincts. The NEA says its also hard for other workers across the state to participate in the caucuses and they deserve equal consideration. Fifteen rank and file teachers sent a letter to their union urging the teacher’s union to drop this suit.

[ursi]

1. then why are they blocking 1,000s of low income casino industry workers from the caucus

when teachers have the day off?

[zalinda]

2. I think it's more of

what about all the retail clerks who can't get off work, or the hospital personnel, or any other person who has to work during the caucus. Why are the culinary union people given special consideration, when the others (who don't work in casinos) have to try and find a way themselves.

zalinda

[juno jones]

3. But these casinos are each central to workers in a 2 and a half mile

radius. There are many, many other buisnesses etc on the strip besides the casinos, and from what I understand, they can all caucaus at the casinos. It is not just the culinary union that will be using this service. It will be all who do shiftwork in the downtown.

I've also heard people ask about Reno and Tahoe casinos,why don't they do the polls there too. I lived in that area awhile and my impression is that Reno different, there is not a centralized strip and people's neighborhoods aren't as sprawled out. As far as Tahoe goes, well, pretty much everyone works in the casinos in Stateline, NV and lives in South Lake Tahoe across the CA border. Too few residents to make it worth it.