FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, June 4, 2018
Media Contact:
Bethany Khan ▪ BKhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088
Mary Hynes ▪ MHynes@mgmresorts.com
Tentative agreement reached between Culinary and Bartenders Unions
and MGM Resorts International
LAS VEGAS – The Culinary and Bartenders Unions and MGM Resorts International are pleased to announce that they have reached a tentative agreement for a new five-year contract covering 24,000 of the company’s employees at 10 casino resorts in Las Vegas.
The contract 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 soon and more details will be announced after ratification.
The new five-year contract covers the following Las Vegas MGM Resorts International casino resorts: ARIA, Bellagio, Circus Circus, Excalibur, Luxor, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay (including Delano), The Mirage, New York-New York, and Park MGM.
“This contract includes the strongest and most comprehensive immigration, sexual harassment, and safety language in the history of any union in the United States,” said Geoconda Argüello-Kline, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union. “We are proud to protect immigrants who have Temporary Protected Status and Dreamers, require regular multilingual training to ensure workers understand how to report sexual harassment from anyone (including customers) and with the company, are committed to aggressively pursue justice, and equip thousands of workers in the city with Wi-Fi-enabled safety buttons. The historic new agreement also has the strongest economic package ever negotiated with the highest wage increases and healthcare and pension benefits for workers.”
“As a single mom, if I didn’t have the great health insurance we have secured and strengthened, I wouldn’t be able to afford to take care of my son who has medical issues. With this contract, I can safeguard my son’s future,” said Cheryl Lawrence, a baker at the MGM Grand. “Hundreds of thousands of workers before me sacrificed and fought to make sure that I have the benefits I have. So now, I am fighting for the future generations.”
"We understand that the best service, hospitality, and entertainment are provided by people, especially by those who feel valued and respected,” said Corey Sanders, Chief Operating Officer for MGM Resorts International. “We worked diligently to craft an agreement that demonstrates our long-term commitment to our employees and their families and allows our Company and the Unions to continue creating secure jobs and future opportunities in Las Vegas.”
“I feel happy because my job and benefits are protected and that I won’t have to worry about providing for my family,” said Victor Chicas, a food server at Mandalay Bay. “Strengthening owners and successorship language in this contract was important to me because I know I will be protected as companies restructure ownership. I stand in solidarity with my Strip and Downtown brothers and sisters. We are ohana and nobody gets left behind.”
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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 MGM RESORTS INTERNATIONAL:
MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is an S&P 500® global entertainment company with national and international locations featuring best-in-class hotels and casinos, state-of-the-art meetings and conference spaces, incredible live and theatrical entertainment experiences, and an extensive array of restaurant, nightlife and retail offerings. MGM Resorts creates immersive, iconic experiences through its suite of Las Vegas-inspired brands. The MGM Resorts portfolio encompasses 28 unique hotel offerings including some of the most recognizable resort brands in the industry. Expanding throughout the U.S. and around the world, the company in 2018 opened MGM COTAI in Macau and the first Bellagio-branded hotel in Shanghai. It also is developing MGM Springfield in Massachusetts. The 78,000 global employees of MGM Resorts are proud of their company for being recognized as one of FORTUNE® Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies®. For more information visit us at www.mgmresorts.com.