MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment and Wynn Resorts are facing an imminent walk out in Las Vegas as hospitality workers are preparing to strike next week.
The culmination of over seven months of negotiations with three of the city’s largest employers, the Culinary Workers and Bartenders Union has set a strike deadline of 5am on November 10, which could see some 35,000 workers walk out if conditions for new contracts aren’t met.
Potentially one of the largest hospitality strikes the US has ever seen, the ongoing dispute stemmed from the union being unable to agree to a new five-year agreement over improved wages and benefits, expanded safety and technology language and a reduced workload for guest room attendants.
Last month, the union gained a 95 per cent majority vote for the strike action to take place if its conditions failed to be met by the entertainment destinations. If the strike is to go ahead, 18 casino destinations across the Vegas Strip would be affected.
“A month ago, workers voted overwhelmingly to authorise a strike and we have continued negotiating in good faith, but unfortunately companies haven’t made enough movement in negotiations,” said Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union.
“Their current proposal on the table is historic, but it’s not enough and workers deserve to have record contracts – especially after these giant corporations are enjoying their record profits.”
“We will strike on Friday, November 10, 2023 because when Culinary Union members do well in Nevada all Nevadans benefit.”
The destinations include eight MGM Resorts properties – Aria, Bellagio, Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, New York-New York, and Park MGM – nine Caesars International properties – Caesars Forum, Caesars Palace, Flamingo, Harrah’s, Horseshoe, Paris, Planet Hollywood, The Cromwell, and The Linq – and Wynn Resorts.
Addressing the ongoing dispute to shareholders in the company’s latest earnings call on Tuesday, Caesars Entertainment CEO, Thomas Reeg, stated: “When we reach an agreement on the contract, it’s going to be the largest increase that our employees have seen in the four decades since we started interacting with the Culinary Union.”
While the strike is set for one week’s time, the union stated that no ‘big table’ negotiations have been scheduled as of yet.
