Culinary Union Urged Customers to Boycott Crossing Picket Line Last Friday and Saturday.
The Culinary Union mobilized customers and community supporters to stand in solidarity and refrain from crossing the picket line on Friday and Saturday. In response to failed contract negotiations with Strip casino hotels, union members in Las Vegas contemplated an informational picket to express their dissatisfaction and demand new contracts. The impending strike, slated to commence the next day, witnessed Culinary Union members at the Rio Las Vegas, SAHARA Las Vegas, and Virgin Hotels Las Vegas vacating their posts. Additionally, the Union planned to initiate 36 consecutive hours of picketing at all unresolved casinos.
While the Union clarified that the next day’s demonstration was an informational picket rather than a full-fledged strike, they were adamant about urging customers and community allies to honor the picket line on Friday and Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Culinary Union had postponed the strike deadline for the 10 downtown Vegas properties without contracts until Monday, February 5th. These properties included Binion’s, Circa, Downtown Grand, El Cortez, Four Queens, Fremont, Golden Gate, Golden Nugget, Main Street, and The D Casino.
As negotiations progressed, the Culinary Union remained resolute in its commitment to achieving a five-year agreement for the 2,600 workers in the Las Vegas hospitality industry currently operating without contracts. While several victories had been secured through negotiations with major players like MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, and Wynn Resorts, as well as with independent properties along the Strip and downtown, unresolved contracts posed a significant challenge. The potential strikes loomed over Super Bowl preparations, presenting the Culinary Union with additional leverage in negotiations.
