Hundreds of hospitality workers at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas near the Las Vegas Strip walked off the job at 5 a.m. Friday amid a long and heated dispute for a new contract.
Culinary Workers Union work stoppage at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas marks the first open-ended strike in 22 years
The work stoppage at the hotel-casino marks the first open-ended strike in 22 years for the Culinary Workers Union, the largest labor union in Nevada, with about 60,000 members.
Workers at the casino also walked off the job for two days earlier this year as negotiations escalated. Virgin Hotels was pressured to agree to a new five-year deal with higher wages and better benefits.
Bellhops, housekeepers, porters, and servers picketed outside the hotel-casino, which was formerly the Hard Rock Las Vegas. The union pays striking workers $500 per week for picketing shifts for at least five days.
Virgin Hotels said in a statement that it is focused on reaching a deal with the union that is “economically viable” for both its union workers and its other employees.
“Our dedication to our team members’ well-being and achieving sustainable performance at our property remains steadfast. … We are fully committed to finding a fair resolution that is in their best interest,” the company said.
Several casinos up and down the Strip narrowly avoided thousands of hospitality workers walking off the job
The strike comes a year after multiple casinos on the Strip narrowly avoided thousands of hospitality workers walking off the job on the weekend the city was set to host its first Formula One race.
Though, agreements were reached just before the union’s strike deadline. Workers received about a 32% salary increase over the life of the contract. Employees were also given a 10% bump in pay in the first year.
Following the breakthrough deals last November, the Culinary Union reached similar agreements for the rest of its members at other hotel-casinos. The contracts on the Strip alone cover more than 40,000 workers.
Bethany Khan, a spokesperson for the union, said Virgin Hotels is the “final holdout.” The union’s contract covering about 700 employees there expired last June. Both the union and Virgin Hotels said negotiations stalled because of disagreements over pay.
Virgin Hotels’ latest proposal amounted to an estimated $0.30 more annually to wages over five years
Ted Pappageorge, the union’s secretary-treasurer, said the company’s latest proposal amounted to an estimated $0.30 more annually to wages over five years after deducting additional money union workers would have to contribute to their benefits.
“… Non-tipped workers at The Strat received over $4.00 an hour in wage increases this year alone. The Virgin Las Vegas’ proposal is miles apart and is an insult to every worker. [That’s] why the committee voted unanimously to refuse to settle for a second-class contract,” Pappageorge said.
Virgin Hotels said Thursday night that it has tried to compromise with the union by offering earlier pay raises during a new five-year contract instead of only in the fourth and fifth years.
However, in response to the offer, “the union chose to engage in ‘take it or leave it’ bargaining.” The union says “24/7 picket lines” will be in place during the strike around the property.
Picket lines can be seen off the Strip and along the tourist corridor from the city’s international airport. The most recent open-ended strike occurred at the Golden Gate in 2002.
