Months removed from their record-setting deals with MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment and Wynn Resorts, the Culinary Local 226 and Bartenders Local 165 unions are still negotiating with a total of 23 properties across northern and southern Nevada, and a strike deadline has been set for February 2 and 5 a.m.
In total, the negotiations affect some 7,700 non-gaming workers, including food and beverage staff, cleaning staff, valet attendants and more. Of the 23 total properties still negotiating, 21 are in Las Vegas and the other two are up north.
According to a statement issued by the unions, the negotiating committees “may call for strike sooner at individual properties” should talks break down before February 2. The contracts at those locations expired back on June 1 of last year.
Per the statement, the union is currently in discussions with the following:
“Circus Circus, Hilton Grand Vacations, Rio, Sahara Las Vegas, Strat, Treasure Island, Trump Hotel Las Vegas, Virgin Hotels, Waldorf Astoria, Westgate, Binion’s, Circa, Downtown Grand, El Cortez, Four Queens, Fremont, Golden Gate, Golden Nugget, Main Street, The D Casino, and Plaza.
The following negotiation schedule was also disclosed:
- January 9: Hilton Grand Vacations, Strat
- January 10: Circus Circus
- January 11: Sahara
- January 12: The D, Circa, Golden Gate, Treasure Island, Waldorf
- January 16: Westgate
- January 17: Trump Hotel Las Vegas
- January 18: Grand Sierra Resort (Reno)
As the deadline approaches, the unions said they have already begun “contacting locals, customers, investors, company board members and partners, regulators, and community allies about the impending citywide strike risk in Las Vegas. Culinary Union will also commence large-scale labor demonstrations, including workers picketing before and after their shifts, ahead of the deadline.”
Back on January 3, Culinary Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge told the Las Vegas Review-Journal, “We think we’re going to have strikes. It’s unfortunate. If we do, it would actually mean more locations under strike than the three big employers.”
In the January 8 statement from the unions, Pappageorge echoed these sentiments, urging operators to sign new deals and end the threat of strike just days before the city is slated to host Super Bowl 58.
“We’ve been working hard since last year to win historic contracts with Big 3 and several independent casinos, but we aren’t done yet,” he said. “ It’s time for 7,700 workers employed at 21 properties to get a fair contract and have security for themselves and their families. Corporations are making record profits and workers deserve to have record contracts.”
“Workers at the 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. 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.”
