LOS ANGELES— Culinary Workers Union officials negotiating on the behalf of 50,000 Las Vegas casino waitresses and housekeepers on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 rejected a new contract offer from two major casino companies over issues related to health care and work loads, as both sides seek to avoid a potential strike next week. The union received the proposals from MGM Mirage and Mandalay Resort Group May 20, 2002. The offers came just four days after union members overwhelmingly authorized their leaders to call a strike if a new contract agreement is not reached before the current one expires May 31, 2002. Casino representatives and analysts have said such a strike would be a major setback to Las Vegas, which was hit hard during the post-Sept. 11 travel crisis, but has come back strongly in recent months. The union has scheduled negotiations with all the citys major casino operators over the next week. Discussions took place May 21, 2002 with Stratosphere, owned by billionaire financier Carl Icahn, and will be held May 22, 2002 with ParkPlace Entertainment Corp. A session with Harrahs Entertainment is set for May 23, 2002, followed by Boyd Gaming Corp. May 24, 2002 and MGM Mirage and Mandalay May 26, 2002. The union will also prepare for a possible strike by calling its members to a May 24, 2002 meeting to assign picketing shifts in the event a new contract isnt reached, union officials said. SOURCE: Reuters News Service
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