That New York Strip or frozen margarita may not be within the playing cards at some Las Vegas casinos if a threatened strike by hospitality employees takes place within the coming weeks.
Workers with the Culinary Workers Union (CWU) have voted to authorize a strike if a brand new five-year labor deal can’t be reached.
The union represents cooks, waiters, bartenders, housekeepers, and others at a number of the metropolis’s largest casinos together with properties owned by MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, and others. Union membership totals 60,000 employees in Nevada total, with 53,000 employed in Las Vegas.
A date for a walkout hasn’t been set as negotiations proceed.
“Culinary and Bartenders Union members have sent the strongest message possible to the casino industry to settle a fair contract as soon as possible,” union secretary-treasurer Ted Pappageorge mentioned in an announcement. “We have negotiations scheduled next week with MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, and Wynn/Encore Resorts and it’s up to the three largest employers in Las Vegas to step up and do the right thing.”
Pappageorge added that employees have been able to do “whatever it takes – up to and including a strike.”
Union Demands
The CWU’s present contract expired on Sept. 15 and employees are asking for higher wages, advantages, and dealing circumstances. Some of the group’s calls for embody the most important wage will increase ever negotiated in union historical past.
Issues associated to expertise are additionally part of the union’s objectives. Adding to current protections guaranteeing superior notification when new expertise impacts jobs is a matter. This contains requiring coaching for brand new expertise jobs. The union desires well being care and severance pay for employees laid off due to new expertise as effectively.
Additionally, employees hope to realize extra recall rights, permitting extra staff to return to their jobs within the occasion of one other pandemic or financial disaster.
Casino Management Responds
A possible strike may have an effect on quite a few casinos on the Strip and in downtown Las Vegas. This may come at a busy time within the metropolis. Upcoming occasions embody the South Point 400 NASCAR race, Las Vegas Grand Prix, SEMA auto present, National Finals Rodeo, and extra.
Casino administration has responded to the strike authorization this week and hopes to succeed in some type of settlement within the coming days.
“We continue to have productive meetings with the union and believe both parties are committed to negotiating a contract that is good for everyone,” MGM famous in an announcement.
Wynn additionally responded to the strike vote and added that the corporate “has historically had a positive and cordial working relationship with labor unions and has always reached satisfactory agreements with each. Our employees are the heart and soul of Wynn, and we will continue to work with Local 226 and Local 165 to reach an agreement that provides our employees with competitive wages and benefits, in a work environment that matches our high standards.”
Beyond Caesars, MGM, and Wynn, different casinos affected embody properties like Hilton Grand Vacations, Mirage, Rio, Sahara, Strat, Treasure Island, Tropicana, Trump Hotel, Virgin Hotels, Waldorf Astoria, Westgate, Binion’s, Circa, Downtown Grand, El Cortez, Four Queens, Fremont, Golden Gate, Golden Nugget, Main Street, the D, and the Plaza.
