STATEMENT by Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge urging the DNC to make Nevada the First-in-the-Nation for the 2024 Presidential Primary

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

MEDIA CONTACT:

Bethany Khan: bkhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088 

STATEMENT by Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge urging the DNC to make Nevada the First-in-the-Nation for the 2024 Presidential Primary: 

The Culinary Union sent a letter on Friday, June 3, 2022 to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) urging them to select Nevada to host the nation's first Democratic Presidential nominating contest in 2024. On Wednesday, June 22, 2022, the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee met to consider Nevada’s application. 

Excerpt from the letter the Culinary Union sent the DNC:

During the Nevada 2021 Legislative Session, the Culinary Union supported AB126 which established a Primary Election in lieu of a State Caucus. 

In the 2020 Democratic Presidential Election, the majority of the caucus participants chose to early vote rather than to participate on Caucus Day. The Culinary Union hosted an early vote site for the first time in 85 years, for union and community members to participate in this democratic process. Culinary Union mobilized members and their families to vote early. We are proud that over 2,500 Nevadans casted their ballot in 4 days at the Culinary Union early vote site location. In addition, several Las Vegas Strip casinos hosted 24-hour voting sites, which gave hospitality workers the option to vote during their shift.

Nevada is more representative and reflective of the diversity of our country. As Nevada’s largest organization of Black/AAPI/Latinx/immigrant workers, the Culinary Union believes that Nevada’s diverse communities should be the first in selecting a presidential candidate. 

The Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, 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. The Culinary Union has a diverse membership which is 55% women and 45% immigrants. The demographics of Culinary Union members are approximately: 54% Latinx, 18% white, 15% Asian, 12% Black, and less than 1% Indigenous Peoples. 

Nevada is among the states with the highest per capita union population in the country. With a Democratic legislature and Governor, it has increased its union presence with the passage of collective bargaining laws.

The Culinary Union urges the DNC to select Nevada to host the nation's first Democratic Presidential nominating contest.

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 45% 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 87 years.

CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226 

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