Members of the Culinary Union picketed in front of the Virgin Hotels site in Las Vegas yesterday as negotiations over a new labour contract persist.
Following the expiration of the Union’s agreement with the hotel last June, the deadline to reach a new agreement has now passed – as the date was set for March 9. What this means is that a strike can now be called at any time, which would be an unprecedented action at the property.
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas has today reiterated its commitment to "bargaining with Culinary Workers Union 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 in good faith." The hotel believes that itself and the workers share a "mutual commitment" to ensuring a successful future for the property.
Earlier this year, the Culinary and Bartenders Union in Las Vegas announced the deadline for a strike on February 2 – following on from previous action in 2023, when members threatened to strike if wages were not increased. The strike was narrowly avoided, as the Culinary Union settled with Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino a week before the Superbowl. The only hotel with which an agreement was not reached was Virgin Las Vegas.
Virgin Hotels said in a statement, “We have made significant investments in the property during its renovation and re-branding, and we believe that reaching a new mutually beneficial agreement with the Culinary and Bartenders Unions is critical to securing the Hotel’s future. While it is unfortunate that we do not yet have an agreement, we remain optimistic that continuing negotiations will result in a positive conclusion for all parties.”
Culinary Union leader Ted Pappageorge recently appeared on the Huddle.
