Arrests have been made in Las Vegas as Culinary Workers Union Local 226 disrupted traffic to participate in a demonstration related to contracts that expired on September 15. The workers voted 95% in favor of a strike on September 27, and police arrested protestors in the evening around 5:50PM.
The vote means a city-wide strike could also be called in future. The negotiations the casino industry employees are calling for are with the “Big Three” operators: MGM, Caesars and Wynn Resorts.
On October 3, the Culinary Union in Las Vegas had scheduled contract negotiations with the casino operators, but by October 9, Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge was quoted as saying the union saw ‘no movement’ on the issues in discussion.
Workers picketed the week of October 13, chanting “No Contract, No Peace” and carrying signs saying “One Job Should Be Enough.”
Pappageorge recently told local reports, “We have a history and tradition here in Las Vegas of civil disobedience. That means when you believe that there's something unjust going on, you will send a message and take an arrest in a peaceful, nonviolent action.
“To send a message that we're disciplined, we're organized, and we're strong, and we're ready to fight."
Neither Wynn Resorts, MGM, nor Caesars have publicly released comments on the status of the negotiations in progress.
About a week after the original September vote in Las Vegas, Detroit casino workers also voted on a potential strike. This week, over 700 casino workers entered the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center asking for the city council’s support.
