Resorts on the Las Vegas Strip have shown “some movement” toward reaching an agreement regarding wage increases in the recent negotiations with the Culinary Workers Union Local 226, according to the Las Vegas Sun local news report.
However, Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge told the Sun that movement is slow on issues like workload reduction and daily room cleaning reinstatement.
Both the Bartenders union and the Culinary Workers union are asking for stronger protections against new technology that could potentially threaten jobs and for higher pay. Union worker intitally raised concerns regarding pay because of inflation and have demanded higher wages due to the rising cost of living.
Nearly 95% of union members recently voted in favor of a citywide strike.
Workers are also demanding improved safety conditions on the job site and for “a reduction in steep housekeeping quotas.”
During the past few weeks, hundreds of workers from Culinary Local 226 and Bartenders Local 165 gathered outside of Paris Las Vegas to picket during the strike. Dozens of workers were recently arrested for “staging an act of civil disobedience” in the middle of the Strip during a demonstration outside Paris Las Vegas and the Bellagio.
The union recently met with MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment and Wynn Resorts to discuss a resolution. All three resorts have engaged in ongoing talks with the union, which has asked that the Las Vegas operators implement a new fire-year contract at more than 40 locations where deals have expired or are under extension.
Should the unions call for the strike, it could potentially affect at least 18 Las Vegas locations.
As of now, workers are not officially on strike. However, Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge said a strike could happen “at any time.”
