Las Vegas Workers Prepared to Strike Ahead of Super Bowl
Date: 2024-01-21 Author: Dima Zakharov Categories: EVENTS
Workers Ready to Strike Ahead of Super Bowl in Las Vegas
Super Bowl LVIII is set to kick off on February 11, 2024, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. As excitement builds for one of the most-anticipated National Football League (NFL) events of the year, visitors to Sin City may encounter a surprising sight – picket lines outside downtown and Strip hotel casinos.
Successful Negotiations and Ongoing Talks
Last week, the Culinary Union, which represents casino workers, celebrated a significant victory with the negotiation of a new five-year contract for employees at Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas. However, negotiations with 20 other hotel casino resorts in Las Vegas are still ongoing, and the possibility of picket lines remains.
Deadline Set for Negotiations
In a recent interview with The Nevada Independent, Ted Pappageorge, the Culinary Union's secretary-treasurer, indicated that picket lines could appear just in time for the Super Bowl LVIII celebrations in early February. The Culinary Union had previously set February 2 at 5 AM as the deadline for reaching agreements with the remaining downtown and Strip hotel casinos.
Workers Demand Fair Conditions
Pappageorge stressed the importance of securing new contracts for workers in outstanding casino hotels, emphasizing their right to the same benefits as those negotiated with major operators in Las Vegas. He noted that February 2 marks nine months since the hospitality workers' contracts expired.
While a strike is not the preferred outcome, Pappageorge asserted that workers are prepared to take action to ensure better conditions, fair wages, and job benefits. He also pointed out that these companies have thrived post-pandemic, and workers are determined to receive their fair share.
Last year, the Culinary Union successfully reached agreements for new five-year contracts with Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, and Wynn Resorts, benefiting around 40,000 employees in the sector.
