VEGAS INC Magazine - Latest Las Vegas business news, features and commentaries about gaming, tourism, real estate and more
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COURTS CONSTRUCTION REPORT SAYS THERE'S HOPE FOR BUILDERS By Steve Greensenior staff writer There's no work planned on casino megaresorts anytime soon, but a steady stream of smaller building jobs may help the Las Vegas construction industry emerge from its deep recession. That's according to the Associated General Contractors of Las Vegas, an association of about 500 local companies and building industry executives. The AGC issued a report Nov. 11 suggesting the local construction industry may have finally bottomed out from its deep decline during the recession. The report, prepared by local STEVE MARCUS LOSS FOR WYNN: A Clark County judge ruled that a tip-sharing policy introduced at the Wynn hotel and casino, right, and later at the Encore violated state law. Judge Rejects Wynn Tips Policy By Steve Greensenior staff writer Steve Wynn's revolutionary policy of requiring hundreds of card dealers to share tips with supervisors does not comply with Nevada law, a state judge has ruled. Clark County District Court Judge Kenneth Cory ruled that Michael Tanchek, at the time Nevada's labor commissioner, erred last year when he found the Wynn tip-pooling policy doesn't violate state law. An attorney for Wynn Resorts Ltd. said the company would appeal Cory's order — setting up a showdown on the issue at the Nevada Supreme Court, where the parties have predicted the case would eventually end up. "The Wynn disagrees with the order and intends to appeal the District Court's rulings to uphold the more appropriate rulings and reasoning of the labor commissioner," Las Vegas attorney Gregory Kamer said. Ruling in a lawsuit filed by dealers challenging Tanchek's ruling, Cory wrote that Wynn casino supervisors — called boxmen — and "Casino Service Team Leads," formerly floor supervisors and pit managers, weren't entitled to share in dealers' tips. Leon Greenberg, an attorney for SEE COURTS PAGE 9 We're here to help. Property Management | Sales | Leasing | 21 NOVEMBER 2011 | GatskiCommercial.com ı (702) 221-8226 7 advisory company Applied Analysis, said that after four years of declines, construction-related employment in the Las Vegas area had increased on a month-over-month basis for four consecutive months through September. Despite high unemployment (13.6 percent) and falling home prices still hampering the Las Vegas-area economy, the recent strength in the construction industry is part of broader local economic improvements that include continued growth in the city's important tourist count, the report said. Construction employment locally of about 41,900 people remained below 2010 levels, the AGC report noted. But "average hours worked and average hourly wages for construction workers have both spiked during the past few months, a compelling indication that SEE CONSTRUCTION PAGE 9