Negotiations are continuing ahead of a June 1 deadline, which is the earliest date that could see workers represented by UNITE HERE’s Culinary and Bartenders Unions at major Las Vegas resorts and casinos go on strike.
“We met with the Culinary and Bartenders Unions on Monday and more talks are scheduled this week,” a spokesperson for MGM Resorts International tells Travel Agent. “We are confident that we can resolve the outstanding contract issues and come to an agreement that works for all sides.”
Nearly 25,000 Las Vegas casino employees voted last week to authorize the strike, which could take place any time after June 1. On that date, roughly 50,000 union members’ contracts are set to expire. In addition to MGM, that includes properties owned by Caesars Entertainment, Penn National, Golden Entertainment and Boyd Gaming, among others.
In its latest update UNITE HERE said it estimates that a one-month strike could cost MGM and Caesars, which it describes as the two largest employers on the Las Vegas Strip, over $300 million in operating profits. UNITE HERE said that the major outstanding issues include technology, hotel housekeeping workload study, union security in case of property ownership change, and wages and benefits. The unions are proposing average increases of 4.0 percent per year, while the companies have countered with about 2.7 percent average annual increases over five years, UNITE HERE said.
UNITE HERE said that its last major strike, which took place in Atlantic City in 2004, lasted 34 days. The last major strike of this kind in Las Vegas took place in 2002, when 25,000 workers went on strike. Another citywide strike in 1984 lasted for 67 days.
The Culinary Union has set up a website at www.VegasTravelAlert.org to keep track of the travel impacts of the labor disputes.
Here’s a list of all 34 casino resorts whose contracts are set to expire June 1 and thus could be affected by the strike:
- Bally's Las Vegas
- Caesars Palace, including Nobu
- Flamingo Las Vegas
- Harrah's Las Vegas
- Paris Las Vegas
- Planet Hollywood
- The Cromwell
- The LINQ
- Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas
- SLS Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, including W Hotel
- Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower
- Treasure Island Hotel & Casino
- Tropicana Las Vegas
- Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino
- Aria Resort & Casino
- Bellagio Hotel & Casino
- Circus Circus Hotel & Resort
- Excalibur Hotel & Casino
- Luxor Hotel & Casino
- MGM Grand Las Vegas
- Mandalay Bay, including Delano
- The Mirage
- Monte Carlo Hotel & Casino (Park MGM)
- New York-New York Hotel & Casino
- Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel
- Fremont Hotel & Casino
- Main Street Station Casino Brewery & Hotel
- Four Queens Resort and Casino Las Vegas
- Golden Gate Casino
- Golden Nugget Las Vegas
- The D Las Vegas
- Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
- Plaza Hotel & Casino Las Vegas
- El Cortez Hotel and Casino
Stay tuned to www.travelagentcentral.com for further updates on this developing story.
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