NATIONAL GAMBLING IMPACT STUDY COMMISSION

MR. JAMES MORA

CHAIRPERSON JAMES: Jose Mora?

MR. MORA: (Through translator.) My name is Jose Mora. I'm a cook and I work for Crystal Park Hotel and Casino. We have a union even though right now we don't have a contract, we're fighting to get one.

I began to work in the casino since it opened in November '96 but two weeks after it opened we started to have problems with the managers. And that's why I became part of the union. But we couldn't organize the union because they closed the place. That was the second time that that happened to me because before I had worked in the El Dorado Club Casino for four years and that was also closed.

This time my co-workers and I as union committee members began to mobilize people and we took a lot of action so that the casino would open back up again. Now that the casino is open again with a new owner and with an agreement that allows us to organize the workers, we have won union recognition.

We felt the difference and now my job is a lot more secure and that is very important for me because I support my wife and my child.

In the short amount of time that we've had the union, we have been able to resolve the problems that have confronted us. For example we've been able to resolve problems like our seniority, our days off, and more than anything we've able to win respect that we never had before.

We hope to someday change this work place so that we'll treated as the workers should be treated. And so that we will be able to offer our families a better life.

Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON JAMES: Thank you.