Thousands of industry workers on Friday, 10:00 AM took to the Las Vegas Strip to picket in front of eight different casinos. Members of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226, clad in red T-shirts took to Las Vegas Boulevard, and hoisted signs, chanting their demands for contracts.
Culinary Workers Union Local 226 is one of the largest and most prominent unions in the country. The workers demonstrated in front of properties amid ongoing contract negotiations between the union and MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, and Wynn Encore Resorts. This was the first time in nearly two decades that thousands of Culinary and Bartenders Union members picketed on Las Vegas Boulevard.
📍Las Vegas Strip near @HorseshoeVegas @Bellagio @parisvegas @PHVegas
👤 What do we want?
✊🏽 Contract!
👤 When do we want it?
✊🏽 Now! #OneJobShouldBeEnoughCC: @MGMResortsIntl @parkmgm @NYNYVegas / @CaesarsEnt @TheLINQ @HarrahsVegas @FlamingoVegas / @CaesarsEnt pic.twitter.com/9O5ANTglx5
— Culinary Union (@Culinary226) October 13, 2023
As per the Vegas Eater, the Culinary Union represents 60,000 workers across Nevada, out of which 53,000 members are based in Las Vegas and are in active negotiations with casino and hotel employers for a new five-year contract. As of September 15th, roughly 40,000 workers are working under an expired contract.
📸 Photos from the picket lines across the Las Vegas Strip are now up!
🪧 ICYMI: Thousands of hospitality workers picketed 8 different @MGMResortsIntl & @CaesarsEnt casinos as workers fight for a new 5-year contract and so that #OneJobShouldBeEnough!https://t.co/VRT8LqMsp0 pic.twitter.com/F10OwOaOhL
— Culinary Union (@Culinary226) October 13, 2023
Last month, the union members voted to authorize a strike that could impact 22 casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. As per the report, the union is not currently on strike, and the picket lines are intended to pressure the casinos into approving new five-year contracts that would include provisions such as pay increases, reduced workloads for housekeeping workers, expanded safety measures, health care, and job security in case of another pandemic or economic crisis.
The move to authorize a strike means that bartenders, cooks, cocktail and food servers, guest room attendants, porters, bellmen, laundry, and kitchen workers statewide could hit the picket line or strike at any time.
🎤 Who’s got the power?
👥 We got the power!
🎤 What kind of power?
💪🏽 Union power!
🎤 What kind of power?
💪🏽 Union power! #OneJobShouldBeEnough pic.twitter.com/5Gkih6exJ1— Culinary Union (@Culinary226) October 13, 2023
The recent demonstrations were planned for the sidewalks in front of the LINQ Hotel + Experience, Paris Las Vegas, Park MGM Las Vegas, Harrah’s, Flamingo Las Vegas, Horseshoe Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood Las Vegas Resort & Casino, and New York-New York Hotel & Casino.
📊 You made your record profits
💵 We want our record contract! #OneJobShouldBeEnough
CC: @MGMResortsIntl @parkmgm @NYNYVegas / @CaesarsEnt @TheLINQ @HarrahsVegas @FlamingoVegas / @CaesarsEnt @ParisVegas @HorseshoeVegas @PHVegas pic.twitter.com/MFZ9QzLXAD— Culinary Union (@Culinary226) October 13, 2023
The protests come ahead of the Formula 1 Grand Prix, which is expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors and more than a billion dollars in revenue. The Culinary Union issued a statement urging members of the public, customers, community allies, elected officials, and convention planners to not cross an active picket line and to stand in solidarity with workers by not eating, meeting, or staying in a casino resort during an active picket line.