RENO (AP) - Union employees are planting signs and handing out fliers outside northern Nevada's largest hotel-casino to protest the resort's stance on health insurance during contract negotiations.

Union members contend the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino is being unreasonable because of the amount it wants employees to pay for health insurance.

Visitors entering the resort were greeted Friday with signs reading, "Grand Sierra Resort: Do the Right Thing - Keep our Health Insurance Affordable."

The union says the peaceful demonstration would continue through
Reno's Hot August Nights celebration, which ends Aug. 10.

Tom Schrade, president and chief executive officer of the resort, defends the proposal.

He says the resort is offering "the best possibile policy at the best possible cost" for employees, but they will have to defray a portion of the cost.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-08-02-08 1851EDT