Union to Lead Demonstrations at Caesars and MGM Casinos in Las Vegas Within the Week
Las Vegas Hospitality Workers Union Edges Closer to Strike
In a move that could potentially disrupt the hospitality industry in Las Vegas, Culinary Local 226, a union representing 53,000 workers, is approaching a significant strike. On Monday, the union called on its members to participate in protests outside eight casino resorts, aiming to pressure owners into negotiations for a new five-year labor contract.
The scheduled protests, set for Thursday, Oct. 12, will involve two-hour "informational" picket lines at Park MGM, Paris Las Vegas, and The Linq. Picketers will afterward move to the sidewalks in front of Harrah's, Flamingo, Horseshoe, Planet Hollywood, and New York-New York. Workers will participate in these demonstrations before or after their work shifts, as outlined in a media release from Local 226, and the union has appealed for solidarity by urging individuals to avoid patronizing casino resorts during active picket lines.
Historically, Culinary Local 226 has a clear precedent for such action, with a strike dating back to 1984,marking one of the largest strikes in Las Vegas history. This industrial action lasted 67 days.
Currently, negotiations are ongoing between the union and three prominent Strip employers: MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, and Wynn Resorts. However, on Monday, Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer of the union, expressed his disappointment over the progress of these negotiations in remarks to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Although a specific strike deadline has not yet been set, the union revealed last month that over 95% of its Las Vegas restaurant and hotel workers had voted in favor of authorizing a strike as their existing contracts expired. With approximately 40,000 union members currently working under expired contracts, they stand poised to be the initial participants in any strike action.
The union has emphasized the existence of an "active labor dispute with 18 casino properties across the Las Vegas Strip," asserting its ability to call for a strike at any time. The union's primary focus remains on MGM and Caesars properties, as it demands revised no-strike clauses in the contracts that would grant the union the authority to strike against non-union restaurants situated on union properties. This demand is absent in the case of Wynn.
Additional key demands include substantial wage and benefit increases, enhanced safety protocols and technology integration, as well as a reduction in the workload for guest room attendants.
On Thursday, picketers from the Las Vegas Hospitality Workers Union, Culinary Local 226, may be found protesting at casino-and-gambling establishments such as Park MGM, Paris Las Vegas, The Linq, Harrah's, Flamingo, Horseshoe, Planet Hollywood, and New York-New York. These demonstrations could escalate into a strike if negotiations with MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, and Wynn Resorts do not yield a favorable five-year labor contract, a move that could bet significantly disrupt the casino-and-gambling scene in Las Vegas.
