Upcoming Actions by Las Vegas Culinary Union: Demonstrations Scheduled at Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts Properties Next Week
In a bold move, the Culinary Workers Union Local 226, which represents a whopping 53,000 workers in the hospitality industry in Sin City, is considering taking a major step closer to a monumental strike. On Monday, the union rallied its troops, urging thousands to participate in demonstrations outside eight casino resorts to put pressure on the owners to engage in contract negotiations.
Informational Picket Lines Galore
The union has planned two-hour "informational" picket lines, starting at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 12. These protests will take place in front of Park MGM, Paris Las Vegas, and The Linq. The demonstrators are expected to relocate to the sidewalks in front of Harrah's, Flamingo, Horseshoe, Planet Hollywood, and New York-New York. Workers intend to join the protests before or after their shifts, as announced in a press release from Local 226. Moreover, the union has made a public plea for solidarity, advising people to avoid visiting casino resorts during an active picket line.
The Ghost of 1984
The potential strike echoes a historical tune, as the union's last major strike can be traced back to 1984, when over 17,000 union workers, in collaboration with three other unions, launched what the union described as "one of the largest strikes in Las Vegas history." This industrial action persisted for an astonishing 67 days.
The Dance of Diplomacy and Deadlines
At present, negotiations are underway between the union and three major Strip employers: MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, and Wynn Resorts. Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer of the union, expressed his discontent with the pace of these negotiations in an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Monday.
Although a specific strike deadline has not been set, the union revealed last month that an astounding 95% of its Las Vegas restaurant and hotel workers had endorsed authorizing a strike as their existing contracts neared their expiration date. Approximately 40,000 union members are currently working under expired contracts, making them prime candidates to participate in any strike action.
The union claims to have an "active labor dispute with 18 casino properties across the Las Vegas Strip," asserting its ability to call for a strike at any moment. The union's primary focus is on MGM and Caesars properties, given its demand for revised no-strike clauses within the contracts, allowing the union the freedom to strike against non-union restaurants situated on union properties – a provision missing in the agreement with Wynn.
Battleground Issues
The negotiations encompass several key issues, such as substantial wage and benefit increases, heightened safety protocols and technological integration, and reduced workloads for guest room attendants.
In the upcoming demonstrations, protests will be held outside multiple casinos in Las Vegas, including Park MGM, Paris Las Vegas, and The Linq, creating a significant display of casino-culture activism. If the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 decides to strike, it would echo the union's 1984 strike, marking a return to the casino-and-gambling industry's dramatic labor history.
