By Stephanie Valencia
Las Vegas Unions and Wynn Resorts, MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment struck deals as strike neared.
According to a press release, Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, which are affiliates of UNITE HERE, announced the tentative agreement on a five-year contract.
On Nov. 8, Caesars Entertainment was the first to reach a tentative agreement. Thursday, Nov. 9 MGM Resorts followed with an agreement less than 24 hours before the strike deadline. Wynn Resorts reached a deal hours before the deadline on Friday, Nov. 10 at 2 a.m.
According to a Nov. 10 press release, “After seven months of negotiations, we are proud to say that this is the best contract and economic package we have ever won in our 88-year history,” said Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for the culinary union.
The historic new agreement includes the largest wage increase, workload reductions, increased daily protection, expanded technology and the right for unionized workers to support non-unionized workers seeking to unionize by respecting their picket lines.
The threat of strike was over unions’ contracts and working conditions. If it would have gone through, it would have been the largest hospitality worker strike in U.S history with an estimated 35,000 protesters. The Union gave members the option to strike; those who did not would have lost benefits if the Union won the contract battle, according to a press release.
Union members felt confident an agreement would be made with F1 one week away. “They can’t afford to lose us; we must stand our ground,” said Carina Carpio, a Union representative. “F1 will bring so many people here and a lot of revenue, they need us to run the show.”
College of Southern Nevada students share their thoughts.
Javiera Sanmartin, CSN student, said, “Before an agreement was made tension was high. Both my parents work union jobs; sometimes they work long hours instead of coming home just so they can make enough hours to cover health insurance.”
Ricky Dorantes, server at the Nomad who spoke about record-hitting profits of MGM, said, “The numbers have gone up the highest they have ever been, yet we are short-staffed since we returned from the pandemic.” Dorantes said employees are overworked. “I’m a server, food runner and busser.”
Three days before the deadline Keoni Pascual, CSN graduate, said, “It’s scary, I went to school to work with big names in the culinary industry, including Roi Choi, Wolfgang and Ramsey located on the Strip. They attract people from all over the world. Now I have to protest to be treated fairly without a guarantee that in the end I will.”
This represented a success for the Culinary Local Union 226 and bartending Union 165 who represent 60,000 workers in Las Vegas. Members consist of guest-room attendants, cocktail and food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks, bartenders, laundry and kitchen workers.
Coyote Student News at the College of Southern Nevada 