House Democrats’ Hearing on Affordability & Cost of Living Crisis
On August 28, 2026, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee and Democratic Nevada Members of Congress Representatives Dina Titus, Steven Horsford, and Susie Lee held a Field Hearing. Culinary Union Secretary Treasurer Ted Pappageorge was invited as an expert witness to the Field Hearing held at the Las Vegas City Hall. The Field Hearing examined how Trump’s policies have driven up the cost of living for working families, from skyrocketing gas prices and grocery bills to rising housing costs, and the economic impacts driving up costs from Trump’s illegal war with Iran. Last year, Las Vegas saw the largest ever drop in visitor volume going back to 1970 without a single major event. Visitation dropped by 7.5% in 2025, with over 3 million fewer visitors compared to 2024. Starting in January, 2025, this White House began to insult and bully other countries with political taunts and economic tariffs while ramping up a dangerous campaign to arrest, detain, and deport immigrants. Through its actions here and abroad, this administration told the world that the U.S. does not respect or welcome foreigners. It should then be no surprise that the rest of the world heard the message loud and clear and many of them decided not to come to the U.S., including Las Vegas. More wars of choice, with missiles or tariffs, are not going to boost consumer confidence. So here in Las Vegas, fewer visitors to Las Vegas means fewer customers in the casinos and hotels, fewer covers and fewer tips in the restaurants, and all that means is fewer hours and shifts for Culinary Union members. And what’s more, prices are still too high and they did not come down on Day One of this new administration. We are all trying to do our best to earn a decent living, support our families, and try to give our children a little more and a little better than what we had. We cannot do any of that if our financial situation gets more precarious by the day. We need our government to take concrete steps to help us get out of this Trump Slump, grow the Las Vegas tourism economy again, and come with meaningful ways to make life more affordable for working people. Right now, working families are hurting, this country is off the rails and we've got to get it back on track.
Culinary Union calls on U.S. Senate to pass Faster Labor Contracts Act
On September 23, 2026, Culinary Union joined U.S. Senators @senbooker from New Jersey and @sencortezmasto from Nevada to call on the Senate to pass the Faster Labor Contracts Act, bipartisan legislation that would guarantee workers who vote to form a union a first contract without years of delay. Under current law, there is no deadline for an employer to reach a first agreement once workers vote to unionize. Workers wait an average of 465 days for a first contract, and many never get one at all. The Faster Labor Contracts Act would require employers to begin bargaining within 10 days of a union's written request to negotiate, allow either party to request mediation from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service if no agreement is reached within 90 days, and refer the dispute to a three-person arbitration panel if mediation fails to produce a contract within an additional 30 days. An arbitration panel's decision would be binding for two years. “For 17 years, Station Casinos has done everything it can to block workers from exercising their right to a union contract - from firing leaders who organized their co-workers to using the pandemic as a scheme to break their union support,” said Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer of the Culinary Union. “Workers at Station Casinos won their union through National Labor Relations Board elections and yet they’ve been dragged through endless delays, appeals, and bad-faith tactics by the company. Culinary Union and Station Casinos’ workers demand justice, applaud Senators Booker and Cortez Masto for their continued leadership, and urge the swift passage of the Faster Labor Contracts Act. This legislation is needed because it puts real timelines and consequences on bad employers who stall. We stand with Station Casinos workers who are organizing and we won’t stop fighting until we win strong union contracts.”
Culinary Health Center - Tropicana grand opening
Since the Culinary Union was founded in 1935, it has been a dream to create state-of-the-art facilities like the Culinary Health Centers. With the opening of the Culinary Health Center - Tropicana, we are living that dream. Located near the Strip at Tropicana Avenue and Decatur Boulevard, the new two-story, state-of-the-art facility features advanced medical equipment, a two-lane drive-through "Culinary FREE Pharmacy," 43 primary care rooms, 3 mental health counseling rooms, 15 dental care rooms, and 18 physical therapy evaluation rooms, including chiropractic and acupuncture services. For decades, Culinary Union is proud to have fought for and won health care legislation that has expanded access, strengthened patient protections, ended surprise medical bills, lowered costs, increased transparency, and have benefited all Nevadans and our entire state. Culinary Health Centers are a testament to the strength and power of Culinary Union members - guest room attendants, cocktail and food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks, bartenders, laundry and kitchen workers - who fought for and won the best healthcare and a better life for our families.
Culinary Health Centers. Only the best!
No one in Nevada gets all this free. Primary care doctor, free. Pediatrics, free. Walk-in care, free. Labs, free. Mental health counseling, free. Radiology, free. Physical therapy, free. Chiropractic care, free. Acupuncture, free. Free, free, full family health care. Nothing deducted from your paycheck. Culinary Health Centers. Only the best!
Culinary Health Centers. Only the best!
No one in Nevada gets all this free. Primary care doctor, free. Pediatrics, free. Walk-in care, free. Labs, free. Mental health counseling, free. Radiology, free. Physical therapy, free. Chiropractic care, free. Acupuncture, free. Free, free, full family health care. Nothing deducted from your paycheck. Culinary Health Centers. Only the best!
Nevada is in a Trump Slump (press conference)
As Trump visits Las Vegas and hosts his event at a Station Casinos property controlled by two of Governor Joe Lombardo's largest donors, the Culinary Union will highlight how the Trump Slump is negatively impacting Nevada's economy and ask why Lombardo won't stand up to Trump. WHEN: Wednesday, August 5th at 10:00am WHERE: Culinary Union HQ
Los trabajadores de Stations necesitan un aumento (BUS)
Los trabajadores de Stations necesitan un aumento - El año pasado, Station Casinos tuvo el mejor trimestre financiero en la historia de la empresa. ¡Tú mereces los MEJORES aumentos salariales anuales garantizados, igual que los miembros de la Culinary Union! ¿Cuánto ganas en Stations? Mereces lo mejor de Station Casinos (la cuarta empresa pública de juegos más grande de Las Vegas, después de MGM, Caesars y Wynn). ¡Station Casinos debería darte un aumento ahora!
Station Casinos workers need a raise! (BUS)
Station Casinos workers need a raise - Last year, Station Casinos had the best financial quarter ever in the company’s history. You deserve the BEST guaranteed yearly wage increases - just like Culinary Union members! How much do you make at Stations? You deserve the best from Station Casinos (the 4th largest Las Vegas public gaming company) after MGM, Caesars, and Wynn. Station Casinos should give you a raise now!
Station Casinos workers need a raise! (BUS)
Station Casinos workers need a raise - Last year, Station Casinos had the best financial quarter ever in the company’s history. You deserve the BEST guaranteed yearly wage increases - just like Culinary Union members! How much do you make at Stations? You deserve the best from Station Casinos (the 4th largest Las Vegas public gaming company) after MGM, Caesars, and Wynn. Station Casinos should give you a raise now!
CALV Forward
The Culinary Academy of Las Vegas (CALV), founded in 1993, is a nationally recognized nonprofit providing licensed hospitality training in partnership with Culinary Workers Union Local 226, Bartenders Union Local 165, and 50+ major resorts. Culinary Union members have access to training as part of their negotiated benefit package. CALV offers hands-on training to help eligible members upskill and reskill for union positions in hospitality, all while working around their current schedules. Training takes place at CALV’s campus and in real service settings, giving students practical experience that translates directly to the job. CALV training certificates are recognized by employer partners as the equivalent of one year of work experience. CALV training programs include Professional Cook, Bar Porter/Bar Apprentice, Wine Server, House Person/Utility Porter, Fountain Worker/Barista, and Food Server/Bus Person. Programs are designed to build skills in food preparation, beverage service, guest interaction, dining room operations, hotel room operations, and facility support. Eligible members must be employed by a participating property and meet training benefit requirements. Most classes can be taken on days off and all training takes place at CALV’s campus. Classes are conducted in English. Location: 710 W Lake Mead Blvd, North Las Vegas, NV 89030 Phone: (702) 924-2105 Hours: Monday – Friday: 8am – 5pm Website: www.theculinaryacademy.org