Ellis clerks ready to strike today

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/jan/01/ellis-clerks-ready-to-strike-today/

By CHUCK STINNETT
Gleaner staff
831-8343 * [e-mail]
Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Barring a last-minute settlement, picket lines will go up today at Ellis Park as union parimutuel clerks go on strike.

The clerks on Friday evening overwhelmingly rejected a contract offer that would cut their wages 24 percent and eliminate most of their fringe benefits. Their previous contract expired late Monday night.

Track owner Ron Geary says concessions are needed to help the ailing track survive long enough to find out if Kentucky voters will agree next year to allow racetracks to operate casinos to boost revenues.

Members of Local 541 of the Service Employees International Union voted down the track's contract offer by a vote of approximately 40-3, union officials said. The old contract expired late Monday night.

Union officials started making plans for setting up picket lines at the three entrances to the track property, such as consulting with Kentucky State Police about where picket lines could safely and legally be set up.

Picket lines would be set up around 8:30 a.m. today and remain in place until about 8 p.m., Brenda Lynn, vice president of Local 541, said.

FULL story at link.