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Transcript of interview with Arte Nathan by Claytee White, December 11, 2014

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Date

2014-12-11

Description

Arte Nathan is trained in Human Resources. He evolved the thinking in the casino industry to allow management and labor to work for the best interests of both. Educated at Cornell University, he worked with Jim Wilhelm of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 to develop an unusually profitable relationship that served the casino owner and the people who maintained the cleanliness of the property. “Look, before I got here it was Al Bramlet. I mean the strike of '84 is something that's indelibly etched in all of our minds. The strike in '86 in Atlantic City was much the same. But that type of contentious labor relations is not the future. And there are progressive companies all over the U.S. whether it's General Motors or Ford or Steve Wynn and Mirage Resorts. That's really the story. Are there disconnects along the way? Are there fights and arguments and egos? Of course, there are. But the overriding story of the Culinary Union in Las Vegas between 1980 and 2014 is that they forged a different relationship, a different model that was unique and successful and helped people to live and achieve their dreams. You don't often get that opportunity.” “I'm not the smartest guy in any room. Never have been and I never will be. But I'm willing to try. I'm willing to be open. I have an opinion and I'll fight with my opinion; you fight with yours because two heads are better than one.” He made room for the disabled, ex-felons, and drug addicts. Arte believes that no person is better than another.

Digital ID

OH_02493_book
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    Citation

    Arte Nathan oral history interview, 2014 December 11. OH-02493. [Transcript]. Oral History Research Center, Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada. http://n2t.net/ark:/62930/d12r3s073

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    Language

    English

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    application/pdf

    AN INTERVIEW WITH ARTE NATHAN An Oral History Conducted by Claytee D. White The Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project The Culinary Workers Union Local 226 Oral History Research Center at UNLV University Libraries University of Nevada Las Vegas