Union Strike Opposed by Virgin in Preparation for Las Vegas Grand Prix Culinary Dispute
The staff at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, represented by the Culinary Union, have been on strike since late July 2025, as negotiations between the two parties remain unresolved. The strike, strategically timed just a week before the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, is aimed at maximizing pressure on the company to reach a favorable agreement.
The Culinary Union, which represents many casino and hospitality employees across the city, has been asserting that Virgin staff deserve fair wage increases. For months, they have been warning of the potential strike at the resort and alerting various parties, including locals, customers, investors, company board members and partners, gaming regulators, and community allies.
The strike, if it goes ahead as planned on Friday, November 15, is expected to affect around 700 Virgin staff. The management of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas has accused the Culinary Union of inflexibility and putting staff at risk over its demands. They claim that the union did not respond to their counter proposals for a vote and did not respond to their request for a meeting until November 8.
The Culinary Union negotiators have been accused of take it or leave it bargaining by the resort's management. The union is protesting Virgin's proposed wage increases for the first three years of a 5-year contract, which they find unacceptable.
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas has stated that they are committed to finding a fair resolution to avoid the strike and have criticized the Culinary Union's refusal to move off a position that is not economically viable for the off-Strip resort. The main co-owners of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas include the LiUNA Pension Fund of Eastern and Central Canada.
The ongoing strike highlights ongoing labor disputes despite broad union representation in the city. The Grand Prix weekend, which includes a free anti-F1 party at a Vegas strip club, is scheduled for Nov. 21-23. The parties will meet for last-ditch negotiations on Thursday, just days before the strike is set to begin.
The Culinary Union's Secretary-Treasurer, Ted Pappageorge, stated that Virgin staff "deserve fair wage increases and they are organized and ready to strike for it." The impact of the strike on all hotel team members at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, as well as the Grand Prix, remains to be seen.
The Culinary Union, with its wide-ranging influence across Las Vegas' business and casino-and-gambling sectors, has repeatedly urged for fair finance adjustments within Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, particularly for their staff. Amidst the ongoing strike negotiations, a potential walkout on Friday, November 15, could potentially affect around 700 employees at the resort.
