The Las Vegas Teamsters Local 631 has voted in favor of a new collective bargaining agreement that will be a four-year term and will include the local’s largest industry wage package in its history.
Almost 1,500 tradeshow and convention members ratified the agreement, which sets the standard for future tradeshow agreements nationwide.
When the Covid-19 pandemic first hit, the tradeshow and convention industry was one of the first to feel its effects. It was one of the first to shut down and one of the last to reopen. Since the Las Vegas tradeshow and convention industry began to bounce back after reopening, nearly 40% of Local 631’s members were not yet working their pre-pandemic hours, according to its report.
Director of the Teamsters Convention, Trade Show and Casino Division and Secretary-Treasurer of Local 631 Tommy Blitsch commented: "Las Vegas is the number one convention and trade show destination in the world. Local 631 members make trade shows happen.
“Every show goes up on time, every time and every show gets torn down on time, every time. We are the best. This contract rewards our members for the work they do."
Blitsch went on to add that the union took the time to make sure its members had an opportunity to voice their concerns and views.
"We held numerous in-person contract proposal meetings with the ability to join via Zoom," he said. "We asked the members for their proposals with the understanding that no proposal was too much and no proposal was stupid. The committee wanted to hear all of the membership's issues so it could address their concerns. The members who participated were vital to achieving this contract."
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters was founded in 1903 and represents more than a million workers throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Local 631 recently voted for an authorized strike at Republic Services. Close to 95% of participating members voted in favor of the strike, the equivalent of more than 1,200 people.
