FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Saturday, June 2, 2018
Media Contact:
Bethany Khan ▪ BKhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088
Richard Broome ▪ RBroome@caesars.com ▪ (702) 407-6476
Tentative agreement reached between Culinary and Bartenders Union and Caesars Entertainment Corporation
Las Vegas, NV – Culinary Union and Bartenders Union and Caesars Entertainment Corporation are pleased to announce that they have reached a tentative agreement for a new five-year contract covering 12,000 of the company’s employees in Las Vegas.
The historic new agreement includes groundbreaking language on worker security regarding sexual harassment, workload, technology, and immigration.
As standard practice, specific details of the contract are withheld at this time out of respect for workers who have not yet had the opportunity to get the full details of their new contract and vote to accept. A ratification vote by the membership will be scheduled very soon and more details will be announced after ratification.
The new five-year contract covers the following Las Vegas Caesars Entertainment Corporation casino resorts: Bally’s, Flamingo, Harrah’s, Paris, Planet Hollywood, Cromwell, The LINQ, Caesars Palace (including Nobu), and the Rio.
“This innovative contract sets clear goals regarding technology and automation for worker retention, job training, advance notice of implementation, and severance package,” said Geoconda Argüello-Kline, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union. “The Culinary Union has fought hard to protect workers over our 83 years and this new agreement is the best contract with the highest wage increases that workers have ever had.”
“I feel great because I can retire with dignity, my healthcare is protected, and now workers have a say in how technology is used in the workplace,” said Leain Vashon, a bell captain at Paris and Vice President for the Culinary Union. “I stand in solidarity with my Strip and Downtown brothers and sisters as they fight to get a contract. I’ll be supporting them in everyway possible so that they can have the same middle-class standard we’ve fought for.”
“We are pleased that all economic and personal security issues have been resolved with this new contract and that employees will continue to provide guests superior service and experiences,” said Tom Jenkin, Global President and lead negotiator for Caesars Entertainment Corporation. “This historic agreement ensures that our union team members will continue to be a crucial part of the Las Vegas Dream.”
“I am ecstatic,” said Antonia Villegas, guest room attendant at The Linq. “Having a settled contract means peace of mind for my family. After months of negotiating worker-centered safety proposals, my workplace is now more secure because we have comprehensive sexual harassment language that protects my coworkers and I.”
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ABOUT THE CULINARY UNION:
Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE, represent over 57,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including at most of the casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas. UNITE HERE represents 270,000 workers in gaming, hotel, and food service industries in North America.
The Culinary Union, through the Culinary Health Fund, is one of the largest healthcare consumers in the state. The Culinary Health Fund is sponsored by the Culinary Union and Las Vegas-area employers. It provides health insurance coverage for over 143,000 Nevadans, the Culinary Union’s members and their dependents.
The Culinary Union is Nevada’s largest immigrant organization with over 57,000 members - a diverse membership that is approximately 55% women and 54% Latino. Members - who work as guest room attendants, bartenders, cocktail and food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks, and kitchen workers - come from 173 countries and speak over 40 different languages. The Culinary Union has been fighting for fair wages, job security, and good health benefits for working men and women in Nevada for 83 years.
CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226
ABOUT CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION:
Caesars Entertainment is the world's most diversified casino-entertainment provider and the most geographically diverse U.S. casino-entertainment company. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, in 1937, Caesars Entertainment has grown through development of new resorts, expansions and acquisitions and its portfolio of subsidiaries now operate 47 casinos in 13 U.S. states and five countries. Caesars Entertainment's resorts operate primarily under the Caesars®, Harrah's® and Horseshoe® brand names. Caesars Entertainment's portfolio also includes the Caesars Entertainment UK family of casinos. Caesars Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its guests through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership. Caesars Entertainment is committed to environmental sustainability and energy conservation and recognizes the importance of being a responsible steward of the environment. For more information, please visit www.caesars.com.