FOLLOWING STALLED NEGOTIATIONS, 700 VIRGIN HOTELS LAS VEGAS WORKERS ARE GOING ON STRIKE

More than 700 workers from the Culinary Workers Union 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas are preparing to strike from Friday, May 10 at 5 a.m. to Sunday, May 12 at 4:59 a.m. after being unable to negotiate a new five-year contract.

On both days, workers will be manning a 24-hour picket line outside the hotel. This will be the first Culinary Union strike in 22 years — the last strike occurred in 2002 at the Golden Gate in Downtown Las Vegas, and lasted for 10 days before the union was able to secure a new contract. This strike will affect areas of operation across the hotel, including its housekeeping, food and beverage departments, and the unionized restaurants including Casa Calavera, Funny Library Coffee Shop, Juice Bar, the Bar at Commons Club, the Kitchen at Commons Club, and the Shag Room. To support the workers during the strike, the Culinary Union has amassed an $11 million strike fund.

The last collective bargaining agreement at Virgin Hotels expired on June 1, 2023. Since then, the union and hotel management have not been able to come to an agreement on terms for a new contract. While many of the conditions of the agreement remain in effect after expiration, including wages and benefit protections, the no-strike provisions are no longer valid. For the new contract, the union aims to secure wage increases, protections around new technology replacing workers, an increased commitment to worker safety, adjustments to daily room cleaning requirements for housekeepers, and more. The original strike deadline for Virgin Hotels, along with 28 other properties, was February 5, 2024.

At a press briefing held Thursday, May 9, Ted Pappageorge, the secretary-treasurer for Culinary Union, said that negotiations with the other properties were successful and ended in new contracts, with Virgin Hotels being the last outstanding hotel. After the February deadline passed, the union, along with the workers on the bargaining committee, decided to continue its negotiations with Virgin Hotels. “Unfortunately, those discussions have been unfruitful and the negotiating committee has made a decision to go on strike tomorrow morning at 5 a.m.” Pappageorge said.

In response to the Culinary Union’s strike announcement, Virgin Hotels issued a press release alleging that the union is not bargaining in good faith. The release alleges that hotel management has put forward “sincere efforts to meet and negotiate,” including offering mediation, but has not been able to come to an agreement with the union. According to the release, Virgin Hotels has also decided to take legal action by filing an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board.

At the press briefing, Pappageorge confirmed that the Culinary and Bar Unions have no plans to meet with the hotel leadership in advance of the strike. “We don’t need a mediator to explain to workers the value of zero,” Pappageorge said. “Workers are not stupid. They’re very smart and it’s just another slap in the face from this company.”

This negotiation marks the second time the Culinary Union is heading to the bargaining table with Virgin Hotels for a new contract. The last negotiation ended with the hotel agreeing to pay Strip standards, but, according to Pappageorge, the cost of living has increased significantly in Las Vegas — the union agreeing to ratify the new contract is contingent upon securing wage increases.

“This strike is an economic strike,” Pappageorge told reporters in attendance at the briefing. He further alleged the hotel had invested in renovations while not offering raises to its employees.

The last major move toward a strike from the Culinary and Bartenders unions happened in November 2023. At the time, 35,000 workers were set to go on strike, but the action was called off after the union came to agreements with MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, and Wynn Resorts.

The next bargaining session between the Culinary Union and Virgin Hotels is set for Tuesday, May 14.

2024-05-09T22:16:14Z dg43tfdfdgfd