MEDIA ADVISORY FOR:
Thursday, August 29, 2024
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bethany Khan: bkhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088
Culinary Union to host a major action at Virgin Las Vegas as labor dispute continues at the casino
Las Vegas, NV - Culinary Union to picket and rally at Virgin Las Vegas on Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 5:30pm as over 700 hospitality workers at the casino continue pushing for a new 5-year union contract. Virgin Las Vegas is in a labor dispute with the Culinary and Bartenders Unions.
WHO:
*Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer for Culinary Union
*Diana Valles, President of the Culinary Union
*Virgin Las Vegas hospitality workers
*Culinary Union members from the Las Vegas Strip and Downtown Las Vegas
WHAT: Picket and rally at Virgin Las Vegas
WHEN: Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 5:30pm
WHERE: Virgin Hotels Las Vegas (4455 Paradise Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89169)
WHY: The Culinary and Bartenders Unions will picket Virgin Hotel Las Vegas as workers continue negotiating to win a new 5-year union contract. There is an on-going labor dispute at the Virgin Las Vegas and the Culinary Union is urging customers and community allies to not cross an active picket line at the Virgin Las Vegas and will be encouraging visitors to cancel their reservation, check out of the property, and choose a union accommodation.
Earlier this year, the Culinary and Bartenders Unions led 700+ hospitality workers out on strike against Virgin Las Vegas during May 10-12, 2024. The strike, which was a first for Culinary Union in 22 years, was maintained 24/7 over 48-hours and impacted all major areas of operations at Virgin Las Vegas, including housekeeping, food and beverage departments, and the following unionized restaurants: Casa Calavera, Funny Library Coffee Shop, Juice Bar, The Bar at Commons Club, The Kitchen at Commons Club, and The Shag Room.
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas (“Virgin Las Vegas”) is owned by JC Hospitality, LLC, in partnership with Juniper Capital Partners LLC of Scottsdale, Arizona, Fengate Asset Management of Toronto, and the LiUNA Pension Fund of Eastern and Central Canada.
COMING TO LAS VEGAS AND PLANNING TO STAY AT VIRGIN LAS VEGAS? Ahead of Wespay Payments Symposium (September 11-13), 2024 USSSA National Conference (September 29-October 1), RISE Conference (October 21-23), Sin City F&F Halloween Ball (October 26), Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix (November 21-23), Wrangler NFR Las Vegas 2024 (December 5-14), Las Vegas Bowl (December 27), AVN Adult Entertainment Expo (Jan 22-25), 2025 Academic Surgical Congress (February 11-13) and Exchange 2025 (March 23-26), the Culinary Union is asking locals, elected officials, political candidates, conferences/conventions, and tourists to support hospitality workers by not patronizing the Virgin Las Vegas, which is in an active labor dispute.
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ABOUT CULINARY UNION:
Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE, represent 60,000 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 300,000 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 145,000 Nevadans, the Culinary Union’s members, and their dependents.
The Culinary Union is Nevada’s largest Latinx/Black/AAPI/immigrant organization with members who come from 178 countries and speak over 40 different languages. We are proud to have helped over 18,000 immigrants become American citizens and new voters since 2001 through our affiliate, The Citizenship Project.
The Culinary Union has a diverse membership which is 55% women and 60% immigrants. The demographics of Culinary Union members are approximately: 54% Latinx, 18% white, 15% Asian, 12% Black, and less than 1% Indigenous Peoples.
Culinary Union members work as: Guest room attendants, cocktail and food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks, bartenders, laundry, and kitchen workers. The Culinary Union has been fighting and winning for working families in Nevada for 89 years.
CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226
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