The Culinary Union is warning of a strike on behalf of workers in 23 Nevada hotel-casinos. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

New Year, new strike

The year might be young but it hasn’t stopped the Culinary Workers Union from threatening a mass strike that could affect 21 Las Vegas-area hotel-casinos and two in wider Nevada. The trade union took to X on Thursday to share news of its campaign to secure new five-year contracts for 7,700 workers at downtown, independent hotel-casinos:

The union declared its latest intention Wednesday at an event attended by Vice President Kamala Harris to celebrate winning over 40,000 new contracts for Las Vegas workers in November.

The union has set a loose strike deadline for either this month or February

“We think we’re going to have strikes, it’s unfortunate,” stated Culinary’s Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge at the event. The union has set a loose strike deadline for either this month or February.

According to a union press release, the 23 hotel-casinos employ 7,700 hospitality workers whose contracts expired in June.

Fighting talk

The Culinary Union has started the year all guns blazing, most likely thanks to momentum gained by historic deals secured for 40,000 workers at Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, and Wynn Resorts. In what was a perfect storm for the union and its members in November, the threat of mass strikes days ahead of the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix left the three operators little option but to agree new deals.

Not content with bringing Vegas’s big three casino operators to heel, the union now has its sights fixed on multiple Nevada hotel-casinos employing workers without a contract.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, these include Binion’s Gambling Hall & Hotel, Circa Resort and Casino Las Vegas, Circus Circus Hotel and Casino, Four Queens Hotel and Casino, Golden Gate Casino & Hotel, Plaza Hotel and Casino, Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, Sahara Las Vegas, The D Casino & Hotel, The Strat, Treasure Island Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, and Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino.

A powerful force

On Wednesday, Pappageorge stated if the strikes take place, “it would actually mean more locations under strike” than the action threatened in November. The union firebrand added in a press release: “Companies are well and workers must win our fair share – we will be fighting very hard to win the best contract ever so that one job is enough!”

further talks with the Nevada hotel-casinos will continue this week and into the next

Culinary stated that further talks with the Nevada hotel-casinos will continue this week and into the next. The LVRJ reported, however, that Culinary has already struck contract agreements with Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas, Palms Casino Resort, The Mirage, and Tropicana Las Vegas Casino Resort.

Adding to the Culinary’s threats, its action has backing in high places. President Joe Biden publicly gave his backing for the union’s efforts in November. “Knowing that the Vice President and the President have our backs means a whole lot to us,” stated union member and Caesars Palace In-Room Dining Food Server, Glen Wilson.