FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, August 29, 2024
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bethany Khan: bkhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088
Ahead of Labor Day, Culinary Union participated in civil disobedience at Virgin Las Vegas, 23 arrested as hospitality workers continue push for a union contract -
BROLL FROM CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE HERE
Las Vegas, NV – Ahead of Labor Day weekend, approximately 23 Culinary Union members were arrested at the Virgin Las Vegas this evening in an act of non-violent civil disobedience as 700 hospitality workers continue pushing for a new 5-year union contract at the property. Virgin Las Vegas is in an active labor dispute with the Culinary and Bartenders Unions as the contract expired June 1, 2023.
The labor demonstration began with picketing on Harmon Avenue in front of Virgin Las Vegas and then Culinary Union members, led by elected leaders of the Culinary Union, Ted Pappageorge (Secretary-Treasurer) and Diana Valles (President), sat down in the middle of the Virgin Las Vegas porte-cochère and participated in the civil disobedience.
“We took negotiations to the streets this evening to send a clear message to Virgin Las Vegas that it’s time to do the right by their workers,” said Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union. “The last Main Table negotiations with the company took place in early July, but unfortunately the company continues to stand by its proposal of $0 in raises for the first 3 years (of a 5-year contract). The company hasn’t offered more than zero in wage increases for the first 3 years of the contract since the first day of negotiations and it’s disappointing that we haven’t seen real movement. The contract expired 15 months ago and the Virgin Las Vegas’ proposal and treatment of their own workers who deserve a raise is unacceptable.”
“I picketed outside Virgin Las Vegas because I feel like they aren’t serious about making things right with us. They still don’t want to give us a raise for the next 3 years and my co-workers and I don’t accept that at all,” said Pamela Holmes, a lead usher at Virgin Las Vegas and Culinary Union member for 15 years. “It feels wonderful to see all the union members come out and support us this evening on the picket line and be in solidarity with us. I know that all the union workers in this city have our back and we won’t give up fighting until we win the best contract ever.”
“I want to send a message to Virgin Las Vegas that we are here, we are union, we are gonna stay union, and we want a contract now!” said Isabel Gonzalez, a guest room attendant at Virgin Las Vegas and Culinary Union member for 14 years. “Everyone else on the Las Vegas Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas has a new contract and fair raises. Why won’t the company do what’s right by us? The Sahara, Strat, and Westgate all have the union standard and gave their workers yearly wage increases - why is the Virgin treating us like second-class? We work so hard to make the casino successful and we need a raise!"
Earlier this year, the Culinary and Bartenders Unions led 700+ hospitality workers out on strike against Virgin Las Vegas during May 10-12, 2024. The strike, which was a first for Culinary Union in 22 years, was maintained 24/7 over 48-hours and impacted all major areas of operations at Virgin Las Vegas, including housekeeping, food and beverage departments, and the following unionized restaurants: Casa Calavera, Funny Library Coffee Shop, Juice Bar, The Bar at Commons Club, The Kitchen at Commons Club, and The Shag Room.
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas (“Virgin Las Vegas”) is owned by JC Hospitality, LLC, in partnership with Juniper Capital Partners LLC of Scottsdale, Arizona, Fengate Asset Management of Toronto, and the LiUNA Pension Fund of Eastern and Central Canada.
COMING TO LAS VEGAS AND PLANNING TO STAY AT VIRGIN LAS VEGAS? Ahead of Wespay Payments Symposium (September 11-13), 2024 USSSA National Conference (September 29-October 1), RISE Conference (October 21-23), Sin City F&F Halloween Ball (October 26), Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix (November 21-23), Wrangler NFR Las Vegas 2024 (December 5-14), Las Vegas Bowl (December 27), AVN Adult Entertainment Expo (Jan 22-25), 2025 Academic Surgical Congress (February 11-13) and Exchange 2025 (March 23-26), the Culinary Union is asking locals, elected officials, political candidates, conferences/conventions, and tourists to support hospitality workers by not patronizing the Virgin Las Vegas, which is in an active labor dispute.
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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 60% 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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