MEDIA ADVISORY FOR:
Thursday, April 16, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bethany Khan: bkhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088
Culinary Union to call out the “Trump Slump” as Trump heads to Nevada
Las Vegas, NV - Culinary Union will hold a press conference today calling out the "Trump Slump" impact on the Las Vegas economy as President Trump visits the state.
WHO:
*Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union
*Diana Valles, President of the Culinary Union
*Linda Hunt, Culinary Union member, Assemblymember for Assembly District 17
*Culinary Union members who are tipped hospitality workers
WHAT: Trump Slump press conference
WHEN: TODAY, Thursday, April 16th at 11am
WHERE: Culinary Union HQ (5241 Spring Mountain Road Las Vegas, Nevada 89146)
Live-streamed at Facebook.com/Culinary226
WHY:
Donald Trump’s policies have impacted Las Vegas’ local economy and workers.
As a result of Trump’s tariffs, immigration policies, and attacks on Canada, Las Vegas suffered a decline in total visitors of 7.5% in 2025, the worst in a non-pandemic year since 1970. Lower visitation rates to Las Vegas means fewer visitors spending money in hotels, restaurants, and small businesses – and that leads to fewer shifts and tips for hospitality workers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there was a decline of 27,000 hospitality jobs last month.
“Workers are living through what we call the ‘Trump Slump’ and it’s showing up in their hours and their paychecks. This administration’s chaotic trade and immigration policies have put a serious chill on travel and tourism. That means fewer hours, less tips, and hard conversations at kitchen tables,” said Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union. “At the same time, we’re seeing a deportation system that targets long‑time, otherwise law‑abiding workers and tears families apart. If an ICE crackdown like the one in Minneapolis hit the Las Vegas Strip, visitors simply would not come here. Culinary Union members fought hard and won strong contracts, but those gains are being undermined by an economy tilted toward billionaires while working families fall further behind. Instead of addressing the real cost‑of‑living crisis: Housing, utility bills, groceries, and health care - this administration is waging a war on working families and our economy. Las Vegas is a hospitality‑dependent economy and we need policies that welcome visitors, respects workers, and strengthens our state, and we’re going to keep organizing and fighting for a real course correction.”
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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 120,000 Nevadans, the Culinary Union’s members, and their dependents.
The Culinary Union is Nevada’s largest Latino/a, 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% Latino/a, 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 90 years.
CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226
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