Las Vegas Casino Workers Get 32% Pay Hike To Avoid Strike

Article by : Erik Gibbs Nov 27, 2023

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Before Thanksgiving, around 40,000 non-gaming Strip employees ratified new five-year collective bargaining agreements, securing an impressive 32% cumulative wage increase.

This marked the conclusion of a prolonged contract stalemate that spanned over seven months, eliminating the looming threat of a strike on the eve of the recent Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The contracts, widely approved by employees, were established with major players in the industry, including Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, and Wynn Resorts.

Culinary Workers Local 226 Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge lauded these agreements, emphasizing their significance in “securing billions [of dollars] for working families in Nevada.”

Additionally, members of Bartenders Local 165, an affiliated labor organization, are covered by these new contracts.

Pappageorge highlighted that workers will experience a substantial 10% wage increase in the first year, culminating in an impressive 32% raise over the entire contract duration. This increase elevates the average wage to $37 per hour, resulting in a total compensation of $2 billion for workers at the three prominent companies over the next five years, according to the union.

Pappageorge expressed appreciation for the largest private employers in Nevada, acknowledging their commitment to investing in frontline workers crucial for the industry’s overall success.

The collective bargaining agreements, which originally expired at the end of May and were extended until September, reached a crucial turning point when the union called for a strike authorization vote, garnering overwhelming support.

The negotiation process unfolded with Caesars taking the lead, reaching a tentative agreement on Nov. 8. Subsequently, a ratification vote involving 10,000 workers occurred on Monday, resulting in approval.

Following suit, MGM Resorts’ 25,400 union employees ratified the contract on Tuesday, with Wynn Resorts’ 5,000 workers conducting a ratification vote on Wednesday, both with similar overwhelming approval margins.

While the Culinary did not disclose specific vote totals, they emphasized that all three companies witnessed a resounding 99 percent approval rate from the voting members for the agreements.

Negotiations are still underway for a new five-year deal with the operators of 24 Strip, off-Strip, and downtown resorts, encompassing 15,000 hospitality workers, including four non-gaming hotels.

Apart from notable wage and benefit increases, these groundbreaking contracts include significant improvements such as workload reductions for guest room attendants, the reinstatement of daily hotel room cleaning, enhanced.