Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer of the Culinary Union Local 226, joined the America’s Workforce Union Podcast to discuss the Las Vegas Strip going 100 percent union. He also discussed Station Casinos’ management on trial with the NLRB and concerns with taxing tips for certain workers.

The Las Vegas Strip is now 100 percent union. Pappageorge discussed the union election victory at the Venetian Resort Hotel, with 99 percent of the 2,000 workers approving union representation. He shared the 25-year-long unionization effort at the hotel and some of the anti-union efforts used by the previous owner. A week ago, Culinary Union Local 226 and Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su celebrated the momentous occasion inside the Venetian.

Meanwhile, the Station Casinos in Las Vegas have continued their efforts to remove the union at their properties. Pappageorge discussed the ownership group and the labor violations that have them on trial in front of the National Labor Relations Board. The trial will cover the NLRB General Counsel’s allegations that Station Casinos used COVID-19 layoffs to undermine worker’s efforts to unionize at two of their properties in 2020.

Pappageorge also discussed issues with taxing tipped workers' wages, especially when many tipped workers make $2.13 per hour, a sub-minimum wage. He said several federal bills had been introduced, but most were too broad to address the concerns effectively. Based on their member polls, Pappageorge shared his opinion on what workers want to see changed. He said the TIPS Act is an option that could make the needed changes so tipped workers receive an effective pay raise.