Racetrack owner-operator Jeff Gural released the following statement after meeting with negotiating committee members of the union that represents Meadowlands mutuel tellers
on Wednesday.
Gural's statement appears below.
I met with Bob Ligouri, Head of the Tellers Union today however, for reasons known only to themselves; six of the seven members of his negotiating committee boycotted the meeting. In addition to Mr. Ligouri, there was one member of the negotiating committee and three tellers who came on their own because they were concerned.
Personally, after all the work I have put into this I was highly insulted by the decision of six of the seven members of the negotiating committee to boycott the meeting. I think the fact that they chose to do so indicates that they are not really serious about collective bargaining and simply want to see the place closed for reason that make no sense.
I thought that Mr. Ligouri and the tellers that were there raised some valid questions and I think I was able to answer those questions and reassure them that it was not our intention to change the existing work rules. I explained that I expected I would be able to retain most of the existing tellers between the new Meadowlands grandstand and the Bayonne facility and I made it clear that as a private operator our interests were totally aligned. I showed them the new plans for the building and some of the marketing techniques that are successful at Tioga that we would apply to the Meadowlands. The more business we do the more tellers we will need and it is in my economic interest to find a way to bring in new customers which can only work to the benefit of the tellers.
Since six of the seven members of the negotiating committee boycotted the meeting I have no idea what the next step will be, however, I still remain optimistic that common sense will prevail.
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C.Renon Good horsemen make
C.Renon Good horsemen make far more than $24 an just look at their homes and the horseman's parking lot at WEG!And Mr. Wood good for you it is people like you that has this great sport and country engaging in a race to the bottom. I refuse to use an automated teller this also includes ATM's not because i do not know how but for my beliefs that people should have these jobs and i will not be part of the population that puts people on the unemployment line!
Please Mr. Peter Smith who
Please Mr. Peter Smith who are you trying to misslead and why. Lets assume you are correct. If the tellers are getting $24. an hour and getting a 40 hour work week that would be $49,920. a year. They don't and they aren't. Sadly there is far too much of this whipping boy blaming, regarding the closing of the Meadowlands that is being laid at the door of the Tellers. I have seen next to nothing of it that comers close to being accurate!
The other unions already
The other unions already signing off to take a pay cut in order to save their jobs, has to be an all or none deal I would guess? If it was not that way it could be very easy to save money by eliminating hours & jobs by the 20% + for the tellers, by having more self serve. There's no way the other unions would agree though if ALL did not take the deal!
Randal Lawton- I knew a
Randal Lawton- I knew a teller at garden state park,and they got $11.00 a race,and happy with it!There were plenty of tellers;waiting to be called in to work,every day;so idon't know where the annual saleries come in,when it was off season they got unemployment,or other work,she loved it!I'm wondering if,you have to close,that should be the end of that union,aye;Hopefully;start over with people that want to be their & do their jobs.Thanks
Howard - wake up man, the
Howard - wake up man, the whole doggone WORLD has taken a pay cut these past few years! Tellers get paid TWENTY FOUR DOLLARS AND HOUR plus benefits?? Are you kidding me?? How many horsemen make $24 an hour?
Mr. Howard Nemovitz get
Mr. Howard Nemovitz get you're facts straight before commenting. Tellers are getting paid $30,000 a year for 20 hours a week work. For most tellers this is a second job as they are strictly there for the generous health benefits. Secondly, everyone across the board all the way up the management ladder is being asked to take a 20 per cent cut with no exceptions. That's not a bad wage for a job that is largely obselete and a high school graduate today could learn in less that 60 minutes on the job. I know personally I haven't used a teller to make a bet in 15 years. Tellers should be grateful they have any kind of a job given how obsolete the position has become today with the advent of Sam machines and internet betting from home.
In reply to Mr. Howard Nemovitz get by JWood
Hey John, Whether I am right
Hey John,
Whether I am right or I am wrong is irrelevant; if a deal doesn't get done the track closes, probably forever.
I offered a solution that doesn't cost Gural's group too much. We need solutions. What's yours.
Thank you,
Howard Nemovitz
Looks like there are a few
Looks like there are a few people who are speaking for a whole lot of people!
Ralph Sucee said the workers
Ralph Sucee said the workers will end up working for 50 cents/hour without the unions protecting them, I say that the tellers will be out of work because of the union--- what do you say now Ralph? This is not a negotiation this is a matter of survival!! Everyone out there involved in the racing industry or just fans this is not one of those issues that we let other people handle it --- finally please get invovled and save our sport because believe it or not this is what it has come too!!
This comment is directed to
This comment is directed to Jeff Gural
Jeff,
I have dealt with Union Business/Worker Reps of the IBEW in the past as a developer with the Heritage Group in Canada. To make your numbers work, you are expecting the tellers to go from $30K/yr to 24K/yr and you're insulted?? Give me a break. You are insulting them. It's real easy for people to be critical of the Teller's Union stand on this issue, but let's be honest. You want grown men and women to drop to a wage that is about what their kids make at the McDonalds. That's why they are balking to even meet with you, and you know it.
On the other hand, I appreciate the fact that the numbers just don't work at the 30K, so both groups are right and both groups are wrong. I have a solution that I believe is a win/win for both sides.
The Union must take the pay cut to the 24K/yr. However, why don't you offer a monthly bonus in the form of a $500./mo "Meadowlands" voucher to each worker, payable monthly. This voucher can be used for anything at the racetrack, ie, food, betting vouchers, gift shop etc. The money stays at the Meadowlands racetrack and at the sametime harness racing gets stimulized by the Union workers. I am confident the workers would accept this deal. At least they could find solice in the fact that you actually took the time to understand their needs and found a way to make the whole thing work. Believe me, they are team players all the way! They do not want to be unemployed, but at the same time they don't want to be treated like some lowly dolts.
If you need some help in pulling this thing off, give me a call. I will get this deal done and my fee is a "Thank You". I'd be glad to help get harness racing back to the Meadowlands, because if we don't, harness racing is doomed. The Meadowlands is our showplace, and I think we all know that.
Howard Nemovitz, VP
Black Magic flex-tite Inc
(727) 565 0189
[email protected]
In reply to This comment is directed to by hjnemo
Garnet Barnsdale
Garnet Barnsdale Describing this union as "team players all the way" is ludicrous considering they didn't even show up to the meeting. Sad really.
How. How did we ever get to
How. How did we ever get to a situation where we are having a gun held to our heads by, of all people, the Tellers?? So saddening.
In reply to How. How did we ever get to by PeterS
Further proof that labor
Further proof that labor unions have out-lived their usefulness.
In reply to Further proof that labor by thirtythreeseven
Brendan Kelly Roger. I
Brendan Kelly
Roger. I believe you are incorrect with regards to Labour Unions having outlived their
usefullness. Your comments would be more fitting if directed toward the various Ontario Horsemen Associations now on
the verge of extinction by virtue of management driving a wedge between them. Regards.