Protests Set by Las Vegas Culinary Union at Caesars and MGM Casinos Next Week
**Las Vegas Hospitality Workers Prepare for Potential Strike**
A potential strike by the Culinary Union Local 226 in Las Vegas, involving approximately 53,000 hospitality workers, is edging closer as negotiations with major employers continue. The strike deadline, if no agreement is reached, is set for Friday, November 10, 2023, at 5:00 AM.
The union has been focusing its demands on MGM and Caesars properties, seeking revised no-strike clauses that grant the union the authority to strike against non-union restaurants situated on union properties. Negotiations are ongoing with three prominent Strip employers: MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, and Wynn Resorts.
If the strike occurs, it would be a significant event, marking the union's first strike since 1984 when over 17,000 union workers went on strike for 67 days. The union has highlighted an "active labor dispute with 18 casino properties across the Las Vegas Strip."
Workers are encouraged to participate in two-hour "informational" picket lines at Park MGM, Paris Las Vegas, The Linq, Harrah's, Flamingo, Horseshoe, Planet Hollywood, and New York-New York on Thursday, Oct. 12. Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer of the union, has expressed disappointment about the progress of these negotiations, stating that the union's proposals include substantial wage and benefit increases, augmented safety protocols and technology integration, and a reduction in the workload for guest room attendants.
The union has appealed for public solidarity, urging people not to patronize casino resorts during an active picket line. However, the union does not have the same demand for revised no-strike clauses regarding Wynn Resorts.
As of now, there are no specific reports confirming the strike's commencement or any postponement beyond the deadline of November 10, 2023, at 5:00 AM. If the strike does occur, it will likely involve approximately 40,000 union members who are currently laboring under expired contracts.
Despite the ongoing negotiations, workers at Las Vegas' casino-and-gambling properties, such as those operated by MGM, Caesars, and other major employers, may soon resort to a strike, potentially affecting casino-games and the overall hospitality industry, just like what happened in 1984. If the strike takes place, the union is encouraging the public to refrain from visiting and supporting these casinos during the active labor dispute.
