Las Vegas Hospitality Workers Vote to Authorize Strike Against 22 Casino Resorts
Las Vegas, NV – Las Vegas hospitality workers have voted in favor of authorizing a strike against 22 casino resorts as they continue to push for a new contract. The Culinary and Bartenders Union announced the decision late Tuesday, increasing the likelihood of a labor dispute in the country’s largest gambling hub.
While the prospect of work stoppages is not yet certain, the vote demonstrates the determination of the workers to secure better working conditions. The employees are seeking a new five-year contract that includes larger wage increases, a reduction in housekeeping quotas, and increased protections concerning the impact of new technology on their jobs.
The Culinary and Bartenders Union represents approximately 60,000 workers in Nevada and has a history of effective political organizing. The union’s secretary-treasurer, Ted Pappageorge, stated, “If these gaming companies don’t come to an agreement, the workers have spoken and we will be ready to do whatever it takes – up to and including a strike.”
The strike authorization was widely supported, with 95 percent of the vote in favor. Should the strike proceed, it would impact some of the most renowned casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip, including MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment Corporation, and Wynn/Encore Resorts.
This move comes amidst a wave of labor activism across various industries, including an ongoing autoworker strike involving the Big Three automakers and a recent walkout of actors and writers in Hollywood. However, there seems to be some progress in the latter case, as the Writers Guild of America announced on Tuesday that writers will return to work after reaching a compromise with the studios.
If the culinary workers proceed with the strike, it would mark their first action of this kind in over four decades. The last strike by the culinary union occurred in 1991 when 500 workers at the Frontier casino went on strike for over six years before finally securing a contract.
As of now, MGM Resorts has not provided an immediate response regarding this development. The stage is set for a potential showdown between the casino industry and its employees, with Las Vegas bracing for a major disruption.