FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, June 11, 2024
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bethany Khan: bkhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088
STATEMENT by Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge regarding the Nevada Primary:
We congratulate our Culinary Union sister, Linda Hunt, on her Democratic primary victory. Shop Steward Linda has been a champion for workers for over 45 years, and we look forward to her being elected this November.
With Linda Hunt for Assembly District 17, the Culinary Union continues our long history of running Culinary Union members for office, because the only way working-class people are going to win what we deserve is if we elect working people who aren’t lawyers or management-types to office.
The Culinary Union recognizes Nurse Geoconda Hughes for showing courage and stepping up to run for office and for leading a principled campaign that centered on the real issues that Nevadans are facing. Geo has spent her entire career fiercely advocating for her patients, and there is no better Democrat that we would rather be in the trenches with.
In our 89 years, we have taken on companies, bosses, presidents, politicians, the status quo, and establishments more than most. Our view of time is different: Whether it’s 6 years, 4 months, and 10 days on the Frontier Strike picket line, or 26 years for workers to win the right to organize at the Venetian, we know that justice isn’t always immediately won, yet we remain committed to fighting one day longer.
Building power for workers isn’t about one election or one cycle but a long-term commitment, and for 89 years, win or lose, the Culinary Union has fought for workers’ rights to be heard and respected in this community, and we shall continue.
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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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