Workers at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas Walk Off the Job in 48-Hour Strike

LAS VEGAS (AP) — In a dramatic show of solidarity, 700 workers at a hotel-casino near the Las Vegas Strip walked off the job at dawn on Friday, marking the first strike in 22 years for the Culinary Union, the largest labor union in Nevada. The workers, including guest room attendants, cocktail servers, cooks, and more, are demanding a new five-year contract with Virgin Hotels, formerly known as the Hard Rock Las Vegas.

The strike comes after months of negotiations between the union and Virgin Hotels, with the union accusing the hotel of failing to negotiate in good faith. Virgin Hotels, on the other hand, filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, claiming the union engaged in unlawful bargaining tactics.

Despite the smaller scale of this weekend strike compared to last year’s planned strikes on the Strip, the hotel-casino’s proximity to the Strip and the airport makes it a significant landmark in Sin City. The property’s transformation into Virgin Hotels, including the removal of its iconic neon guitar sign, adds to the historical context of the strike.

Union members at other Las Vegas-area properties recently secured significant salary increases over five years, setting a precedent for the current negotiations. Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for the Culinary Union, emphasized the importance of reaching a new agreement on wage and benefit increases for the workers at Virgin Hotels.

The 48-hour strike aims to expedite the negotiation process and bring attention to the workers’ demands. Pappageorge dismissed Virgin Hotels’ complaint to the NLRB as a “company stunt,” emphasizing the union’s commitment to fighting for fair treatment of its members.

As the strike unfolds, both sides are under pressure to come to a resolution that satisfies the workers and allows the hotel-casino to continue operations smoothly. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story as the weekend progresses.