LAS VEGAS (AP) — President Joe Biden expressed his gratitude and congratulations to hospitality workers in Las Vegas on Monday after the local culinary union reached a tentative agreement with several hotel-casinos, effectively averting a strike deadline for another property. Biden commended the members of the Culinary Workers Union at a gathering held at the Vdara Hotel, emphasizing the importance of their work and the positive impact it has on the broader community.
Addressing the union members, President Biden said, 'When you do well, everybody does better.' He expressed his appreciation for the ongoing support they have given him in the past and present, as well as their unwavering faith in the union. Acknowledging the significance of their efforts, Biden stated, 'This really matters. It matters, it matters, it matters.'
President Biden, who is currently running for reelection for a second term in November, has been in Las Vegas since Sunday for campaign appearances leading up to the state's Democratic primary on Tuesday. After meeting with the culinary union members, he also visited a boba tea shop before departing for Washington.
The Culinary Workers Union, representing approximately 60,000 hospitality workers across Nevada, announced that it had reached a tentative agreement with six more downtown hotel-casinos. Consequently, the strike deadline for another property was called off. The union has been negotiating on behalf of its members for five-year contracts.
President Biden has gained significant support from labor unions, including a recent endorsement from the United Auto Workers. He has consistently shown his dedication to promoting and protecting the rights of workers. Proudly claiming the title of the 'most pro-union president in America,' Biden emphasized his unwavering support for organized labor during a campaign rally in a historically Black neighborhood in Las Vegas on Sunday night.
The culinary union's tentative agreements come as a relief, as they have averted the threat of a Monday morning walkout at multiple hotel-casinos near the Strip and downtown. This development is particularly significant as Las Vegas enters Super Bowl week, with the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs set to face off at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday. The city is expected to attract approximately 330,000 visitors during this event, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
The tentative agreements reached by the Culinary Workers Union serve as a testament to the collective power and advocacy of workers in the hospitality industry. Through their dedication and negotiating efforts, they have ensured fair working conditions and improved benefits for their members. President Biden's recognition of their achievements further highlights the significance of the work carried out by unions in advancing the rights and wellbeing of workers across the United States.
