Union Members Arrested During Las Vegas Strip Protests Reach 75
Around 75 members of the Culinary Union took part in a protest on Las Vegas Boulevard last night, blocking traffic to draw attention to their ongoing labor dispute with casinos.
During rush hour, the protestors halted vehicles in both directions on the popular street, causing congestion near the Paris Las Vegas and Bellagio casinos. They initially held signs, chanted, sang, and danced to music provided by a DJ on the sidewalk. However, later on, many of them moved to the center of the road and set up two circles, sitting down and refusing to move.
After several minutes, local law enforcement began arresting the civil disobedience participants, handcuffing them with zip ties and leading them onto a police bus for processing. Other workers reportedly cheered as each person was taken into custody, as reported by the Las Vegas Sun.
Those arrested seemed to cooperate with the officers and were all ticketed for a relatively minor offense - assembling to disturb the peace. The Culinary Union organised the protest and pledged to cover legal fees and any bonds for those detained. The majority of the arrested people were shop stewards, who represent fellow union members in the workplace.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Mark Lourenco later stated that the event had been "peaceful."
Protesters Speak Out
Leslie Lilla, a cocktail server at the Bellagio, was detained by the police. She explained to the Las Vegas Sun that while she never wanted to be arrested, the peaceful right to protest is enshrined in the US Constitution.
"You always want to be a law-abiding citizen," Lilla said. "But our country allows us to peacefully protest, and do acts of civil disobedience to show and prove a point."
Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge was also arrested, as per the local television station KLAS. He highlighted the dedication of his union members.
"They are willing to do whatever it takes, including nonviolent civil disobedience. They are willing to get arrested to fight for their contract and fight for their families," Pappageorge shared with KLAS.
Detroit Strikers Show Solidarity
In Michigan, approximately 3,700 casino workers at the MGM Grand Detroit have been on strike for over a week, with support from local politicians.
Some striking workers from the MGM Grand Detroit joined the Las Vegas protest, showing solidarity with their fellow union members from across the country, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Last month, the 60,000-member Culinary Union voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike. About 40,000 of the union members work without a contract, seeking a five-year agreement. Contested issues include salary, workload, and job security. Negotiations between the two parties are ongoing this week.
Neither representatives from MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, nor Wynn Resorts immediately responded to comments on the Wednesday rally.
Read also:
- The discontinuation of SVolt would significantly affect Saarland.
- Hamburg celebrates the vibrant, noisy, and piercing Schlagermove with enthusiasm and excitement.
- Tornado warning: Storm hits the Elbe area
- Upcoming challenges loom large for Tuchel as season ends.
Source: www.casino.org
