Hundreds of hotel workers at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas went on strike early Friday, marking a significant labor action in the Las Vegas hospitality industry.
The strike comes after months of tense negotiations and represents the first open-ended walkout by the Culinary Workers Union in 22 years, ABC News reported.
The union, which represents about 60,000 workers in Nevada, is demanding better wages and benefits for its members at the casino.
The strike is the culmination of a battle over a new contract that began when the workers’ previous agreement expired in June.
The union’s contract for roughly 700 employees at Virgin Hotels expired without a new deal, and after multiple rounds of negotiations, the dispute escalated. The union says Virgin’s proposal, which equated to just 30 cents per year over five years after accounting for benefit deductions, is inadequate.
“It’s an insult to every worker,” said Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge, emphasizing the gap between the two sides.
Workers from various roles, including housekeepers, cocktail servers, porters, and bellhops, gathered outside the property early Friday morning, setting up 24/7 picket lines. The strike is a direct challenge to Virgin Hotels, which is accused of failing to offer fair wage increases. Some employees had previously walked off the job for 48 hours earlier this year to apply pressure during negotiations.
The strike comes one year after a similar situation on the Las Vegas Strip was narrowly avoided, with thousands of hospitality workers threatening to walk off just before the Formula One race weekend. Last year, agreements were reached that included a 32% wage increase over the life of a contract for many Strip workers. However, Virgin Hotels remained the exception, and the union is determined to secure a fair deal for its members there.
Bethany Khan, a union spokesperson, described Virgin Hotels as the “final holdout” in contract negotiations. Unlike other hotels on the Strip, which have agreed to significant wage increases for their workers, Virgin Hotels has reportedly resisted offering any pay raises during the first three years of a new contract.
Workers, such as Merla Paramo, a casino porter, have expressed frustration, telling ABC News, “We are worth more than zero wage increases.”
In response, Virgin Hotels has agreed to some wage increases in the latter years of a new contract but has yet to disclose the details of its offer. A company statement expressed the hotel’s commitment to finding a fair resolution while emphasizing the importance of sustainable performance.
While the strike is not as large as the planned strikes from last year, the timing and location of the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas property near the Strip make it significant. The hotel-casino’s proximity to major routes between the Las Vegas Strip and the airport means disruptions are likely. The property was once home to the iconic Hard Rock Las Vegas, and its ongoing labor dispute is drawing attention to the ongoing fight for fair labor conditions in the city.