Giovanni Guerrero wasn’t even born 22 years ago when Culinary Workers Union Local 226 last called a strike by its workforce at a Las Vegas resort.

But early Friday morning, Guerrero, 18, found himself on the picket line in front of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas just seven months after starting his first real full-time job since graduating from Valley High School. 

A kitchen steward at the off-Strip resort, Guerrero was one of 700 non-gaming workers from the Culinary and affiliated Bartenders Union Local 165 participating in a 48-hour strike to call attention to the stalled contract negotiations with JC Hospitality, the owner-operators of the Virgin. 

“I'm kind of distraught on the fact that it seems like we should be able to reach an agreement for both sides,” said Guerrero. “I think they can give us a better economic package.”

Standing nearby was his father, Juan, who has been a kitchen employee at the property for nearly 20 years since the hotel-casino was known as Hard Rock Las Vegas at Paradise Road and Harmon Avenue. 

In Spanish through a translator, he said how proud he was of his son.

Workers walked off their jobs at 5 a.m. Friday and set up picket lines near Virgin’s entrances. The abbreviated strike is scheduled to end Sunday at 4:59 a.m.