Union Representing Las Vegas Culinary Workers and Food Service Provider at Convention Center Avoid a Strike after Midnight Agreement
Approximately six hours prior to a scheduled strike at 6 a.m. on Saturday, March 11, union reps from Culinary Local 226 and Bartenders Local 165 reached a preliminary deal for a fresh four-year contract with 400 of their food and beverage workers at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This announcement was made at 11:55 p.m. on Friday, March 10.
This strike, which was voted for by banquet servers, bartenders, concession cashiers, cooks, and dishwashers at the convention center back on December 7 and 8, 2022, was due to these non-tipped workers feeling their average hourly wage of $16 to $19 was insufficient for living expenses.
In a statement, Culinary Union secretary-treasurer Ted Pappageorge expressed pride, stating, "The Culinary Union has always stood strong to protect workers over the past 88 years, and we are delighted that this new agreement offers the best wage increases and the highest contract benefits ever for Sodexo LIVE! / Centerplate workers, while maintaining health care and pension benefits for 400 hardworking hospitality professionals who ensure the smooth operation of the Las Vegas Convention Center every day."
Massive Convention Imminent
The previous contract expired on September 1. Discussions between Culinary and Sodexo officials took place in late November, but no agreement was reached. Thankfully, a strike during the CES electronics convention never occurred, but informational picket lines were set up during the MAGIC fashion trade show. An estimated 130K people are scheduled to attend ConExpo-Con/Agg, which begins on Tuesday, making this construction equipment convention—which happens only every three years—even larger than CES, which attracted 115K.
Culinary and Bartenders Union members working for Sodexo LIVE! / Centerplate at the convention center will cast their votes over the coming week on whether to approve the contract. Given the content of the Culinary Union's statement, it appears that ratification is likely, as the statement described the contract as containing "groundbreaking wage increases, mandatory payment of union wages and benefits to temporary workers, and technology language designed to protect workers and their positions."
"This new contract mirrors the technology standard language in Culinary union contracts on the Strip and downtown (Las Vegas) by setting specific goals regarding worker retention, training, advance notification of technology implementation, automation, and a severance package," Pappageorge said.
The Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE, represent around 60K workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including the majority of the casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip and in downtown Las Vegas. UNITE HERE represents 300K workers in the gaming, hotel, and food service industries across North America.
