Prepare yourselves, Sin City, as nearly 8,000 hospitality staff members might be striking as soon as February arrives! The Culinary Workers Union, representing these employees, has established a work stoppage deadline of 5 a.m. on February 2nd if fresh contracts cannot be secured with 21 off-Strip casino resorts.
These aren’t the prominent gaming establishments such as MGM and Caesars, which already finalized agreements with the union following a near-strike in the previous year. Currently, venues like the Rio, Circus Circus, and even the Trump Hotel on the Strip are experiencing the pressure. Downtown gaming venues like the Golden Nugget and the Four Queens are also included.
Discussions are ongoing, so the strike might be averted. However, if these hotels aim to prevent a potential crisis during the bustling spring season, they should be ready to provide improved wages and employment terms. Time is of the essence!
The Culinary Union’s financial head, Ted Pappageorge, stressed the critical need for the strike. He explained that despite extended discussions over several months, a satisfactory agreement for employees at the prominent Las Vegas Strip casinos remained elusive. He pointed out the necessity of a contract that mirrors the unprecedented financial success these establishments are experiencing, guaranteeing the well-being of 7,700 hospitality staff and their dependents. Pappageorge emphasized the union’s longstanding contribution to fostering a stable and equitable workplace within the Las Vegas hospitality sector for the past eighty-plus years, consistently pushing for improved compensation, employment stability, and healthcare provisions.