MEDIA ADVISORY FOR:
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bethany Khan: bkhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088
Culinary Union to picket DBE operators at the LAS Harry Reid International Airport as nearly 400 workers continue push for a new contract
Las Vegas, NV - On Wednesday, November 5th, Culinary Union will be picketing at the Harry Reid International Airport as nearly 400 workers push for a new contract.
WHO:
*Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union
*Culinary Union members employed as cooks, fast food workers, bartenders, servers, and porters at Harry Reid International Airport DBE’s such as: American Bagel (T3), Bagelmania (T1), Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (T1 & T3), Jamba Juice (T1 & T3), Jersey Mike’s (T1), Nathan’s (T1), Port O’Subs (T1 & T3), and Wendy’s (T1).
WHAT: Picketing at Harry Reid International Airport
WHEN: Wednesday, November 5, 2025 from 11:00am-3:00pm
WHERE: Harry Reid International Airport - Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 (5757 Wayne Newton Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119).
NOTE: Media arrival for access to Ted and workers for English and Spanish interviews will only be available at Terminal 1 from 11am-1pm.
WHY: On November 14th 2025, the Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) face a critical deadline as workers demand a new union contract, protection of health care benefits, and respect after four years without raises.
Harry Reid International Airport workers employed as cooks, fast food workers, bartenders, servers, and porters at DBE’s such as: American Bagel (T3), Bagelmania (T1), Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (T1 & T3), Jamba Juice (T1 & T3), Jersey Mike’s (T1), Nathan’s (T1), Port O’Subs (T1 & T3), and Wendy’s (T1), have been subjected to disrespectful negotiation tactics by companies who have made proposals that threaten health care benefits, reduce recall rights among other items, and many have not given workers raises in years.
Workers are prepared to take decisive action if an agreement on a new union contract is not reached by Friday, November 14th, 2024. Culinary Union members employed at the DBE’s are prepared to implement strategic strike actions - potentially including short-term, long-term, or rolling strikes - that could significantly impact operations at the Harry Reid International Airport ahead of the busy holiday season in Las Vegas.
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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 120,000 Nevadans, the Culinary Union’s members, and their dependents.
The Culinary Union is Nevada’s largest Latino/a, 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% Latino/a, 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 90 years.
CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226
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