MGM and Caesars employees have ratified their new five-year contracts. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Las Vegas casino workers have voted to ratify five-year contracts with their employers after threatening strike action. Members of the Culinary Union – the trade union representing Las Vegas casino staff – voted to approve their contracts with MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment this week.

The union shared some footage of MGM workers approving their deals on Tuesday:

All that’s left is for Wynn Resorts employees to give the go-ahead for their new contracts on Wednesday. They are expected to do so considering the favorable deals on the table. Caesars CEO Tom Reeg said the new contracts include the biggest wage increase in four decades for his staff.

It has been a turbulent journey towards this point for employees and operators alike. The contracts of 40,000 Las Vegas resort workers expired in September. Later that month, 95% of Culinary Union members approved strike action as they sought better wages, benefits, and working conditions.

set a strike deadline of November 10 for operators to meet its demands

The trade union then set a strike deadline of November 10 for operators to meet its demands. This would have caused serious disruption to 18 casinos on the Strip just days before the long-awaited Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix. Thankfully for those casinos and their patrons, the three gaming giants agreed on deals before that point.

In Detroit, a similar situation is ongoing. MGM Grand Detroit workers rejected a proposed deal on Monday, despite staff at MotorCity Casino and Hollywood Casino approving their respective offers.