The Culinary Union is planning to picket Las Vegas Strip casinos as it struggles to get a good deal for its members. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

A major moment

The Las Vegas Strip is about to see the first ramifications of turbulent casino worker negotiations this week. Citing “very disappointing” negotiations with casino operators, the Culinary Union began mobilizing workers for what will be the first gaming industry picket line in nearly two decades.

On Monday night, the Union took to X ahead of its planned Thursday action to direct workers to picket lines outside MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, and Wynn Resorts casinos:

According to the Union’s plan of engagement, the picket will take place twice on Thursday for a total of four hours. It will affect eight casinos owned by the three Nevada gaming giants that have failed to reach an agreement on worker salaries and benefits, including the Bellagio Hotel & Casino, the MGM Grand, and Caesars Palace.

Bracing for action

Culinary Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge, who reported back disappointing negotiations with casino resorts, said casino workers should attend their jobs as usual on Thursday and only join picket lines before or after their shifts.

members will ask visitors to the properties not to cross the picket lines

“These are lawful pickets that do not disrupt work,” Pappageorge stated. What the pickets will disrupt, however, will be the operations of eight specifically targeted Strip casinos. According to the Nevada Independent, the Union’s chief Vegas mobilizer said members will ask visitors to the properties not to cross the picket lines and enter the casinos during the scheduled protests.

The Culinary Union’s Director of Digital Communications and Digital Strategy, Bethany Khan, even warned off an X user perhaps hopeful of a Thursday poker game on the Strip:

As Vegas braces for the protests, Pappageorge on Monday underlined the seriousness of the strike. He said while “nobody wants a strike,” the Union had to “do what’s right to protect [the workers’] families and their futures.”

About the money

While Pappageorge left a window open Monday saying his Union was still willing to bargain with operators, the picket could be just the first inkling of even worse issues ahead for casino resorts. Casino workers could down tools at any point after 95% of Culinary Union members approved strike action late last month. The last time they committed to a full strike, it lasted six years.

significantly apart” on salary and benefit issues

The Union and the casino operators are “significantly apart” on salary and benefits issues, stated Pappageorge. He added that between them, the gaming giants made “zero economic proposals or counters,” while one made an offer so small “it was really not consequential.”

Putting even greater pressure on negotiations, U2’s residency is drawing in crowds to The Sphere and Formula 1 is coming to Sin City in November.