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LABOR STANDING TOGETHER: A crowd of demonstrators prepares to march from Culinary Union Local 226 headquarters to Palace Station recently as a statement against the company’s treatment of Hispanic workers. Peaceful Protest Ends With Arrests By Amanda Finneganstaff writer On a side street near Palace Station, 100 Culinary Union supporters were arrested March 24 for blocking a roadway to show their support for the organization’s attempt to unionize workers at Station Casinos. An organized team of Metro Police offi cers were ready with zip ties and three police buses to arrest supporters who sat in the middle of Teddy Drive. The protesters were arrested on counts of pedestrians blocking a roadway—a misdemeanor—issued citations and released shortly thereafter. Close to 1,000 Culinary Union Local 226 members and supporters marched two miles from the union headquarters on Commerce Street to Palace Station to protest what they claim is Station Casinos’ mistreatment of Hispanic workers. The demonstration was the largest in the campaign to unionize workers at the company, union representatives said. For nearly three hours, Station Casinos workers and Culinary Union members marched with signs, chanting “Station hates Hispanics” and “Union busting ’ s got to go.” Some protesters wore shirts with the faces of former Station Casinos workers who they say were fi red for showing their support for the union. The Culinary Union has been attempting to unionize 13,000 workers at Station Casinos’ 18 Las Vegas Valley properties for almost 15 years. Union representatives said the organization’s public campaign to organize the workers began in February 2010. Among those who protested was Olvidio Aquino, a former cook at Palace Station who worked at the property for 22 years. He said he was fi red shortly after he started wearing his union button to work but was told it was because he made a mistake in a recipe. “They fired me after I put my union button on,” Aquino said. “I never had a problem, but as soon as I put my button on and started fighting for my rights, I was fired.” Station Casinos is being investigated by U.S. National Labor Relations Board because of unfair labor practice complaints fi led by the Culinary Union. The union says more than 80 percent of the charges against the company involve Hispanic workers. Station Casinos spokeswoman Lori Nelson called Thursday’s protest a media stunt by the union, but said no disciplinary action would be taken against employees who chose to march. The Culinary Union held a similar demonstration last month in which 22 supporters were arrested for blocking an entrance near Palace Station. “We recognize our team members’ rights to be represented by a union if that’s what they choose, but the union is disingenuous and blatantly lies about what’s going on behind the scenes,” said Station Casinos’ Nelson . “We’re not an anti-union company. We’re a pro-employee company, and we’ve always prided ourselves on being fair to our employees.” Maria Olivas, a server at the buffet at Boulder Station, wore her union button but said she has been told by management not to wear it at work. Olivas said when her children were sick a few weeks ago, she couldn’t take them to the doctor because she doesn’t have health insurance as a part-time employee at Station Casinos. She hopes the union can fi x that. LEILA NAVIDI