18 Vegas Casinos Have Just a Week to Avoid a Massive Strike

Article by : Erik Gibbs Nov 3, 2023

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Las Vegas hotel workers, numbering in the tens of thousands, have set a strike deadline, raising the prospect of significant disruptions at over a dozen resorts. This potential strike may coincide with the inaugural Formula 1 races on the Strip later this month.

The Culinary Workers Union has announced that approximately 35,000 of its members, whose contracts expired earlier this year, could go on strike if agreements aren’t reached with casino giants MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment and Wynn Resorts by November 10.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend, part of Formula 1, is set to commence on November 15 with an opening ceremony and is expected to draw thousands of visitors to the Strip.

Nevada’s largest labor union, with around 60,000 members statewide, has not engaged in a strike in decades. This potential walkout follows other high-profile labor unrest actions nationwide.

In Las Vegas, 18 properties are at risk of being affected by a strike. These include Aria, Bellagio, Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, New York-New York, Park MGM, Caesars Palace, Flamingo, Harrah’s, Horseshoe, Paris Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood, The Cromwell, The Linq and Wynn and Encore Resorts.

Representatives for Wynn Resorts have chosen not to comment at this time, while Caesars and MGM Resorts have not yet responded to requests for comment.

The union’s deadline follows an unsuccessful round of negotiations with the three casino companies that own and operate some of the most iconic hotel-casinos on the Las Vegas Strip.

Negotiations have been ongoing since April, covering topics such as pay and working conditions.

Currently, members receive healthcare coverage and earn an approximate hourly wage of $26, which includes benefits. The union has not disclosed the specific pay raise amount they are seeking but stated that it is the “largest wage increase ever negotiated” in their history.

Hotel workers, including bartenders, cocktail servers, kitchen employees and housekeepers, have also expressed their desire for better job security in light of technological advancements and enhanced security protections, including more safety buttons.

The union has highlighted the need for increased safety measures, with Leslie Lilla, a veteran Bellagio cocktail waitress, emphasizing that they don’t feel safe on the casino floor and require enhanced security for both themselves and their guests.

The labor movement sees this as an opportunity to create a more balanced society with a middle class. The union has demonstrated patience during months of negotiations, which have led to large-scale rallies on the Strip.