LPETTET
Las Vegas is on strike watch after members of the Culinary and Bartenders Unions voted by an overwhelming margin in favor of authorizing a citywide strike.
The Culinary and Bartenders Unions negotiating committee is now authorized to call for a strike at 22 casino resorts properties on the Las Vegas Strip spread between some of the largest employers in the state. The Culinary Union said it has not yet set a strike deadline and will continue to negotiate in good faith with all gaming companies.
The Culinary Union represents 60K hospitality workers in Nevada. 53K of the union members are based in Las Vegas and are in active negotiations with casino/hotel employers for a new 5-year contract. As of September 15, 40K union workers were employed at the 22 casino resorts owned by MGM Resorts (NYSE:MGM), Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ:CZR), and Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ:WYNN). Those members are currently working under an expired contract and are at risk of a major labor dispute. Of note, the Culinary Workers Union has not gone on strike in more than three decades.
Culinary Union statement: “If these gaming companies don’t come to an agreement, the workers have spoken and we will be ready to do whatever it takes – up to and including a strike. Workers brought every single one of these companies through the pandemic and into a great recovery, and workers deserve a fair share. Companies are doing extremely well and we are demanding that workers aren’t left behind.”
Other casino companies with a Las Vegas or Nevada interest include Boyd Gaming (BYD), Las Vegas Sands (LVS), Full House Resorts (FLL), Bally’s Corporation (BALY), and Red Rock Resorts (RRR).