Culinary Union Attacks On UFC Causing Promotion Real Headaches

http://mmajunkie.com/news/28590/big-purse-at-stake-in-union-fight-ufc-boss-says.mma
Dana White repeatedly has said an impasse in legalizing New York MMA stems from a fight between the UFC's co-owners and a culinary union based in Las Vegas.

That fight, the UFC president said, is worth a lot of money.

"If they get Station Casinos, that's another $10.8 million a year to them," White said.

For years, Culinary Union Local 226 has fought, legally and otherwise, to unionize the chain of casinos in which UFC executives Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta own a controlling share. Members of the union, which represents more than 50,000 culinary workers in Las Vegas casinos, staged protests in front of Station properties as recently as March. An attack website aimed at the UFC, unfitforchildren.org, was launched this past year.

On the legislative front, the union has lobbied vigorously to prevent the UFC from staging events in New York. This past week, legislators in Connecticut, another MMA holdout, cited union opposition as one reason a bill to legalize and regulate the sport didn't go up for a vote in the 2012 legislative session.

And in April, an amendment aimed at coercive business practices was voted up by the California state government.

White attributes all of it to the union, calling them "gangsters." He said the stakes of their push in Las Vegas ensure the activity will continue.

"That's why these dirtbags are so relentless and won't stop," he said.

However, White expressed confidence that the UFC will be back in California.

"That's all going to work out," he said.

A press rep for Culinary Union Local 226 could not be reached at the time of this writing.

Unions should be done away with in every type of business.

bigbeastcardinal12 wrote:

Unions should be done away with in every type of business.

joking right?