Las Vegas, NV – The Culinary Union is finalizing plans for a major strike at Virgin Las Vegas, set to begin Friday, November 15, 2024, at 5:00 a.m. Around 700 hospitality workers will walk out in demand of a new five-year contract, marking the first open-ended strike the union has called in over two decades. To amplify the impact, the union plans to station 24/7 picket lines at the resort and is urging patrons to cancel reservations and honor the strike line in solidarity with the workers.
This strike follows the expiration of the workers’ previous contract on June 1, 2023. Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge explained that workers have been fighting for improved wages, better job security, and robust healthcare benefits—terms which, in negotiations, Virgin Las Vegas has been reluctant to meet. Pappageorge emphasized that the workers are determined to achieve a fair contract to ensure long-term stability for their families and to continue strengthening the hospitality industry as a sustainable middle-class employer.
The strike preparation involves logistical and community mobilization efforts. The Culinary Union has amassed picket supplies, coordinated shift schedules, and enlisted workers for strike pay, ensuring that Virgin Las Vegas feels the full impact of a sustained protest. In addition, the union has been proactive in informing local leaders, community allies, and tourists about the labor dispute, urging them to stand with the workers and consider alternative accommodations.
This labor action comes at a crucial time for Virgin Las Vegas, with major events like the Formula 1 Grand Prix and Wrangler National Finals Rodeo approaching. The union is calling on locals, officials, and visitors to support their cause by avoiding Virgin Las Vegas during the strike.
In recent negotiations across the Las Vegas Strip, the Culinary Union and Bartenders Union have achieved significant worker gains. These include historic wage increases, enhanced safety protocols, reduced housekeeping quotas, improved technology usage rights, and extended job recall rights. These victories are designed to protect hospitality workers in the face of economic and technological changes, securing their role in Nevada’s middle class.
About Culinary Union:
Representing 60,000 hospitality workers across Las Vegas and Reno, Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 are affiliates of UNITE HERE, a union spanning North America’s gaming, hotel, and food services industries. With a diverse membership of 55% women and 60% immigrants, the Culinary Union has been advocating for workers’ rights in Nevada for 89 years, ensuring job security, fair wages, and access to quality healthcare through its Culinary Health Fund.
