Las Vegas Casino Culinary Workers Set Strike Deadline
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After avoiding a strike in November that could have seen 30,000 Las Vegas casino workers walk off the job, another labor dispute could be on the horizon by the Culinary and Bartenders Unions.
However, after setting a Feb. 2 deadline to reach a deal with casinos, the union has at least announced preliminary agreements with two properties of 21 properties around Las Vegas.
The strike would affect 7,700 hospitality workers, but the agreements at least cut that number down by about 18%. The union has now reached a deal with Trump Hotel Las Vegas for 350 workers and Westgate Casino for another 1,000 employees.
“I’m really happy that we got this contract,” Westgate food runner Brian Torres said after the agreement. “I’m excited that the working people of Las Vegas are going to get the money they need to live fruitful lives.”
Agreements Sought With Other Casinos
The potential strikes would affect independent casinos and hotels located on the Strip and downtown including Hilton Grand Vacations, The Strat, Circus Circus, Sahara, The D, Circa, Golden Gate, Treasure Island, and the Waldorf. The union is also representing workers at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, which could also strike without an agreement.
In November, the union reached agreements with some of the city’s largest gaming operators – Caesars Entertainment, Wynn Resorts, and MGM Resorts, just in time for the Strip’s first Formula 1 run. Union representatives continue working with the remaining companies in hopes of getting further agreements before the Feb. 2 deadline.
“Workers at the other Strip Independents and Downtown deserve the same wage increases, benefit protections, safety and technology language, and reductions in workloads as the rest of the Strip and they are organized and ready to fight for it,” Culinary Union secretary-treasurer Ted Pappageorge said. “No one wants to strike, but workers are serious and will strike if they have to and the Culinary Union has their back every step of the way.”
Las Vegas isn’t the only part of the country that has seen labor-management disagreements in the casino industry in recent months. Michigan workers took to the picket lines in October for the first casino strike in that city’s history. Workers were on strike for about a month before finally signing a new contract in November.
