Strike! Culinary Union workers walk out at Virgin Las Vegas

The two have not yet come to an agreement on a new contract.

The Culinary Union Local 226 has declared an open-ended strike that will take effect today at Virgin Las Vegas. More than 700 workers who are represented by both Culinary and Bartenders unions walked off the job this morning.

This is the first open-ended strike the group has conducted in 22 years.

Guest room attendants, cocktail and food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks, bartenders and kitchen workers are among those who are participating in the strike.

Tension between the union and Virgin Las Vegas has grown due to a failure to negotiate a new contract for union workers.

The current contract between Virgin Hotels Las Vegas and the union expired nearly two years ago. Since then, attempts to negotiate a new contract have not gone smoothly.

In response, the culinary union held a two-day strike in May. More than 700 members of the state’s largest labor union left the job site to pressure the resort to give the green light on a five-year contract regarding benefits and wages.

During the last several months, the Culinary Union has successfully negotiated new contracts with other casino resorts throughout Las Vegas, including MGM, Caesars and Wynn.

Union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge commented, “The Virgin Las Vegas’ proposal is miles apart and is an insult to every worker, which is why the committee voted unanimously to refuse to settle for a second-class contract. Workers at Virgin Las Vegas deserve a first-class contract with fair wage increases, and they are organized and ready to strike for it.

“As Virgin Las Vegas workers go on strike, the Culinary Union has their back every step of the way and we will win.”

He went on to discuss the conditions local workers have faced during some of the union’s history.

He said in closing, “Nothing in our nine decades has been easily won and our good jobs weren’t simply handed to us.

“We made hospitality jobs in Las Vegas family-sustaining jobs with decades of sacrifice and strength, and we will continue to win what workers deserve – a great union job with fair wages, job security, and the best health care benefits so that Virgin Las Vegas workers can thrive.”

Laura Mack

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