Culinary Union urges Nevada Gaming Control Board to probe Station Casinos 'mud list' emails

Ira Dianen, speaking for the Culinary Union, told the Nevada Gaming Control Board on Aug. 6 that federal labor investigators produced subpoenaed emails between Station Casinos executives that indicate the company maintained a so-called "mud list" used to vet employees by union preference. "The US agency in charge of federal labor law enforcement obtained emails between Station Casinos executives and directors in response to a subpoena," Dianen said, describing messages that discussed preparing a "mud list" for Green Valley Ranch. "You should ask yourselves... why would the chief operating officer of a company that your agency regulates think it was necessary to solicit a list of gaming employees' sentiments about unions?" he asked.The board did not take action on the comment (participants noted public comment items cannot be acted on at the meeting), but Dianen urged the agency to investigate whether Station Casinos "is adhering to the high standards necessary to operating a gaming enterprise in our state." Caryn-style counsel and board staff did not provide a public response during the comment period. The public comment also included testimony from a Station Casinos employee, Matthew Lopez, who described inconsistent schedules, infrequent raises and pay barely above minimum wage: "I make just a little over minimum wage," Lopez said, recounting coworkers94 2016 vote to unionize and ongoing workplace concerns. Board members acknowledged the comments and left the record open to staff follow-up, but no motion or formal inquiry was announced during the meeting. The board94s next scheduled Commission meeting will be the formal venue for licensing or enforcement actions if staff recommends investigation or enforcement.