FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, January 3, 2024
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bethany Khan: bkhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088
Culinary Union celebrates historic union contracts won with Vice-President Kamala Harris, continues fighting for 7,700 hospitality workers employed at 23 casinos in Nevada -
LIVESTREAM, PHOTOS, & BROLL from the event held at Culinary Union HQ
Las Vegas, NV – Culinary Union was proud to mark the historic and hard-fought union contracts won for over 40,000 hospitality workers in Las Vegas by hosting a celebration with Vice-President of the United States of America Kamala Harris at the Culinary Union HQ and hundreds of Culinary Union members. Also in attendance for the event was Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su, Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, Congressional Representatives Dina Titus, Steven Horsford, and Susie Lee, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, and other elected leaders.
After the celebratory event, Culinary Union also hosted a small employee dining room chat with Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su, and several Culinary Union members who are shop stewards and negotiating committee leaders onsite at a Las Vegas Strip casino where workers shared their favorite part of winning the best contract ever and that they aren’t going to leave anyone behind.
“At Culinary 226, you are setting a new standard for workers everywhere of what they now know — because they know the story of what happened here — what they now know is possible, is reasonable, is right, is achievable,” said Vice President Kamala Harris. “So, I came back to say thank you because the work that you have done is, yes about the members of this storied union, but you in the larger movement for workers in America are setting new standards and it is making a difference."
“With President Biden and Vice President Harris in office, workers that know we've got backup and political leadership that values working families, and that's just it's a big deal for us. It gives us hope and strength,” said Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union. “We have won historic contracts for 40,000 workers, but we aren’t done fighting yet. We will be setting strike deadlines very soon for nearly 8,000 hospitality workers so that they and their families aren’t left behind from the economic recovery companies are enjoying. Companies are well and workers must win our fair share - we will be fighting very hard to win the best contract ever so that one job is enough!”
“Knowing that the Vice President and the President have our backs means a whole lot to us,” said Glen Wilson, in-room dining food server at Caesars Palace and Culinary Union member for 24 years. “I’m proud that we protected and expanded our strong union technology language. Our technology language means that workers can grow with technology and have a seat at the table. It means that new technology centers us and we have the opportunity for job training, so that any new jobs created by technology - are good union jobs.”
“Fresh off a year of major victories for unions nationwide, I'm thrilled to kick off 2024 by celebrating the Nevada workers who are driving our economy,” said Senator Catherine Cortez Masto. “My family built a life in Las Vegas thanks to the support unions provided, and I’ll always stand with organized labor and our working families.”
“It was a hard fight, but we won mandatory daily room cleaning language for tens of thousands of housekeepers in Las Vegas - we aren’t done yet. We still have 23 casinos to go on the Strip, Downtown, and in Northern Nevada and we won’t leave anyone behind,” said Elsa Roldan, guest room attendant at the Bellagio and Culinary Union member for 15 years. “I’m happy that President Biden and Vice President Harris support us in our fight, and as a leader myself, I’m glad to see a strong woman like us who helps lead the country everyday and I’m so glad she has our backs. We have her back too.”
“I know firsthand the incredible things unions do to uplift Nevada’s hardworking families, build up our middle class, and help Nevadans achieve the American Dream,” said Senator Jacky Rosen. “All workers deserve a good-paying job, a safe workplace, and a secure retirement. I’m standing with members of the Culinary Union to celebrate their historic wins and new contracts because one job should be enough.”
“We are fighting for the best contract ever because we shouldn’t be working two jobs to support our families. One job should be enough! I’ve been fighting to win the best contract ever at the El Cortez by showing up at picket lines, protests, and actions to show these Downtown companies that we are ready to do whatever it takes to win. Having strong safety language at work is an important issue for me. We are pushing to expand safety buttons so that more workers are protected when we are working in the casino floors and we are fighting to strengthen our existing safety language in the contract,” said Linda Hunt, food server at the El Cortez and Culinary Union member for 45 years. “We will need support from everyone to win these remaining 23 contracts and having President Biden and Vice President Harris’ support definitely makes a difference.”
“I’m proud to represent Nevadans in Nevada’s Fourth Congressional District affectionately called ‘Culinary District 4,’” said Congressman Steven Horsford. “I want to take a moment and recognize all the working mothers that make up the Culinary Union membership. So many of you are working to provide for your children and families and make sure that they have everything they need to be successful in their futures. Some of you are single mothers who balance work and children at home - just like my mom. That’s why I’m so proud of your accomplishments and this recent round of negotiations and what it means for all of you, your children, your families, and their futures. You have achieved a tremendous victory for your families and for our community.”
“We had tough negotiations with the big three casino companies that took 8 months, but we fought hard and won historic wage increases that will help us to support our families and it will help future generations. By the end of this new five year contract, the average Culinary Union member will be earning about $37 an hour including our benefits which is amazing! We are not done yet and we support our brothers and sisters until we win all contracts,” said Elena Newman, guest room attendant at the Mandalay Bay and Culinary Union member for 20 years. “President Biden and Vice President Harris are the most pro-worker elected leaders that we have ever had and we love to see it.”
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ABOUT CULINARY UNION:
Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE, represent 60,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including at most of the casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas. UNITE HERE represents 300,000 workers in gaming, hotel, and food service industries in North America.
The Culinary Union, through the Culinary Health Fund, is one of the largest healthcare consumers in the state. The Culinary Health Fund is sponsored by the Culinary Union and Las Vegas-area employers. It provides health insurance coverage for over 145,000 Nevadans, the Culinary Union’s members and their dependents.
The Culinary Union is Nevada’s largest Latinx/Black/AAPI/immigrant organization with members who come from 178 countries and speak over 40 different languages. We are proud to have helped over 18,000 immigrants become American citizens and new voters since 2001 through our affiliate, The Citizenship Project.
The Culinary Union has a diverse membership which is 55% women and 45% immigrants. The demographics of Culinary Union members are approximately: 54% Latinx, 18% white, 15% Asian, 12% Black, and less than 1% Indigenous Peoples.
Culinary Union members work as: Guest room attendants, cocktail and food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks, bartenders, laundry and kitchen workers. The Culinary Union has been fighting and winning for working families in Nevada for 89 years.
CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226
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