Las Vegas Hospitality Workers Prepare for Strike at Virgin Hotels

Las Vegas hospitality workers are gearing up for the Culinary Union’s first official strike in over two decades, as negotiations with Virgin Hotels Las Vegas for a new five-year contract continue. The strike is set to begin with a complete work stoppage and 24-hour picket lines on Friday at 5 a.m., lasting until Sunday at 4:59 a.m.

Union members from properties on the Las Vegas Strip and downtown are expected to join hundreds of Virgin guest-room attendants, food servers, bartenders, and other hospitality workers in the strike. The last strike in 2002 lasted for 10 days and resulted in a strong contract for workers at the Golden Gate.

The Culinary Union is urging customers and community allies to not cross the picket line at Virgin Las Vegas and is encouraging visitors to cancel their reservations. The union is fighting for better wages, reduced workloads, and the same rights that other casinos on the Strip have.

Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for the Culinary Union, stated that workers at Virgin Las Vegas deserve fair wage increases and are prepared to strike for it. The union has prepared supplies and materials for 24/7 strike stations that will impact all major areas of operations at Virgin.

The strike comes after the Culinary and Bartenders Unions voted to authorize a citywide strike in September 2023, leading to historic contracts for tens of thousands of workers with major casino operators on the Strip. Since then, hospitality workers have secured new contracts at various downtown and independent properties.

Contract negotiations for Virgin Hotels Las Vegas are ongoing, with the union determined to secure fair wages, job security, and the best health care benefits for workers. The strike is a demonstration of unity and determination among workers to ensure that one job is enough to support themselves and their families.