Culinary Union to give public comments at Clark County Commission, Henderson City Council, and Las Vegas City Council as Valley Hospital workers continue strike preparations for May 9, 2023

ONLINETWEET

MEDIA ADVISORY FOR: 

Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 9am

MEDIA CONTACT:

Bethany Khan: bkhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088

BROLL from the recent picket action in front of Valley Hospital

Culinary Union to give public comments at Clark County Commission, Henderson City Council, and Las Vegas City Council as Valley Hospital workers continue strike preparations for May 9, 2023 

Las Vegas, NV -  Culinary Union to appear in public comments at Clark County Commission, Henderson City Council, and Las Vegas City Council as Valley Hospital workers push for a new union contract while preparing for a strike.

Culinary Union has scheduled negotiations with Valley Hospital on Monday, May 8, 2023 at 11:00am and has set a strike deadline of Tuesday, May 9th, 2023 at 6:00am.

Culinary Union recently picketed Valley Hospital on April 24, 2023 and workers signed up for strike benefits and shifts during the picket. 92% of respondents in a recent poll of Nevadans said that they would support and honor a strike by workers at Valley Hospital. 

WHO: Culinary Union members who work at Valley Hospital as housekeeping, cooks, cashiers, kitchen workers, and stewards.

WHAT: Current and former Valley Hospital workers to give public comment at Clark County Commission, Henderson City Council, and Las Vegas City Council. 

WHEN & WHERE:

*Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at 9:00am at Clark County Commission (500 South Grand Central Parkway, Las Vegas, Nevada 89155). Video replay from the livestream is available here: https://clark.granicus.com/player/clip/7509?view_id=28&redirect=true&h=642b58b0bdcd38f0e1d5153a3ecdcd54

*Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at 4:00pm at Henderson City Council (240 South Water Street Henderson, Nevada 89105). Video replay from the livestream will be available here: https://henderson.hylandcloud.com/203AppNetAgenda/Meetings/ViewMeeting?id=2842&doctype=1

*Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 9:00am at Las Vegas City Council (495 South Main Street Las Vegas, Nevada 89101). Video replay from the livestream is available here: https://www.youtube.com/live/V4vfMzDFvPw?feature=share&t=5016

WHY:

Culinary Union represents approximately 90 housekeeping, cooks, cashiers, kitchen workers, and stewards at Valley Hospital.

“Valley Hospital is union busting and is trying to take away good Culinary Union health care and pension from workers. Valley Hospital employees have been unionized for over 40 years and they are essential workers who haven’t had a contractural raise in seven years and they deserve one,” said Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union. “Culinary Union has set a strike deadline of Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at 6:00am and if a union contract isn’t reached, then workers will go on strike. Valley Hospital workers are fighting to keep their Culinary Union benefits, pension, health care, and job security - worker will go on strike to protect their good union jobs.”

“I’m willing to go on strike because I’m fighting for my future and my family’s wellbeing,” said Karen Espinoza, a cook at Valley Hospital for 4 years. “I feel very unappreciated by the company - it’s been seven years since we had a raise and the cost of living has gone up, but our wages haven’t. My coworkers and I are united and we are picketing to show that Valley Hospital is UNFAIR. My coworkers and I voted to go on strike and now we are taking the next steps to prepare for a strike by making strike picket signs and now signing up for strike benefits. We aren’t going to give up until we win a strong union contract.”

“I’m fighting to keep my good union benefits, win better wages, and job security,” said Brandi McMorris, a pantry worker at Valley Hospital for 16 years. “I believe that one job should be enough and I am preparing to go on strike because I see the company trying to take away our union benefits and pension and that’s not right. Valley Hospital needs to do the right thing and agree to a good union contract. I call on the community to support us workers on the picket line.”

“This contract fight for me is about fairness and I am ready to go on strike,” said Terry Jackson, a EVS tech worker at Valley Hospital for 39 years. “We are overworked, underpaid, and disrespected. We haven’t had a proper raise in years, and we aren’t taking it anymore. This injustice has gone on for too long. We work so hard at Valley Hospital and it’s unfair how they are treating us. I work on the Operating Room - sometimes there are 30 cases in a day, and there are just two of EVS tech workers to turn over all those rooms, clean, and often we don’t have time to take a break. I have less than two years till I’m eligible for retirement and I am fighting for my coworkers and I to have a good union job. Valley Hospital, sign the contrac 

“I am ready to strike to show Las Vegas that Valley Hospital is treating us unfairly and that’s not right! We deserve to be treated with dignity and respect,” said Brenda Reyes, cafeteria worker at Valley Hospital for 6 years. “I have a 8-year-old son who has a speech delay and I work hard to provide for him, but it’s hard when we haven’t gotten a raise in years. Not having a contract means putting things on hold. I can’t buy a home or get a car because I don’t know what is going to happen and everything at work is insecure. Valley Hospital, this needs to be resolved and stop union busting - it’s disgusting!” 

“I am fighting for my family and my sons to have a better future,” said Charlotte Beverlin, a house cook at Valley Hospital for 10 years. “I am proud to make sure everyone from doctors, nurses, patients, and visitors are fed and taken care of, but what about me and my coworkers? We worked so hard during the pandemic, but now it feels like the company thinks we aren’t essential or important. They treat us like second-class, which isn’t right. I’m prepared to go on strike because my coworkers and I are worthy of better and we are going to fight for what we deserve.” 

Valley Hospital has fired 4 Culinary Union members who were leaders in their workplaces, including, Betty Williams, a committee leader and 40-year Culinary Union member. The company also decided to suspend a Culinary Union organizer from the property and interfere with the Culinary Union’s right to access of workers and the unionized workplace.

Since 2017, Valley Hospital has made $1.5 billion in revenue and sent over $100 million to its out-of-state corporate office in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. In the same time period, Valley Hospital has given its housekeeping and dietary workers $0 in contractual raises. Valley Hospital’s national company, Universal Health Services (UHS), paid its top 5 executives a total of $86 million from 2020 to 2022.

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 87 years.

CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226 

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