Dive Brief:
- Thousands of hospitality workers picketed outside eight resorts owned by MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment on the Las Vegas Strip Thursday, according to Culinary Union Local 226.
- The workers, holding signs reading “Contract Now!”, are still in negotiations with their employers for a new five-year union contract. The union is seeking expanded safety measures, reduced workloads for guest room attendants, and “substantial” wage and benefit increases.
- The Culinary Union — which consists of the Culinary and Bartenders Unions in Las Vegas — voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike last month. If an agreement with resort employers isn’t reached, a strike could impact up to 40,000 resort employees.
Dive Insight:
The action on Thursday marked the first time in nearly two decades that Culinary Union members have picketed along the Strip.
The Vegas workers’ labor dispute has garnered national attention since their authorization of a Strike in September. Shortly after the strike vote, the White House commented to The Messenger: “President Biden believes all workers should have good jobs with fair pay and benefits that give them the opportunity to provide for themselves and their families.”
“As the Culinary and Bartenders Unions continue contract negotiations, we urge the discussions to move forward in good faith and hope both sides come to an agreement that preserves the city’s high quality hospitality jobs and gives all workers the quality of life they deserve,” the statement from Robyn Patterson, the assistant White House press secretary, continued.
The union has a history of successful strikes. In 1984, 17,000 union members struck at properties along the Strip and emerged 67 days later with settled contracts.
The union’s last strike authorization vote took place in 2018, but workers were able to finalize contracts before walking out.
The Culinary Union is affiliated with Unite Here, the union organizing hotel worker strikes in California. It has asked visitors to Las Vegas not to cross active picket lines.
