Tessa Quinn
On November 15, 2024, hundreds of hospitality workers at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas went on strike, marking the first open-ended strike in 22 years for the Culinary Workers Union. The union, which represents 60,000 hospitality workers across Nevada, is fighting for a new contract with higher wages and better benefits. This comes after a series of labor disputes between Las Vegas unions and hotel and casino operators, with workers voting to authorize strikes across multiple properties on the Las Vegas Strip. The strikes highlight the ongoing tensions between workers seeking better compensation and companies experiencing strong revenues and growth.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of workers on strike | 700 |
| Union | Culinary Workers Union |
| Union members in Nevada | 60,000 |
| Hotel | Virgin Hotels Las Vegas |
| Date | Friday, November 15, 2024 |
| Time | 5 a.m. |
| Type of strike | First open-ended strike in 22 years |
| Previous strike | 48-hour strike in May 2023 |
| Reason | Breakdown in contract negotiations |
| Union demands | Wage increases, reduced workload, better benefits and safety protections |
| Hotel response | Accusations of "bad faith bargaining" |
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What You'll Learn
- Virgin Hotels Las Vegas workers went on strike in November 2024
- The strike was over a new contract with higher wages and better benefits
- The Culinary Workers Union represents 60,000 hospitality workers across Nevada
- The union called for 24/7 picket lines and urged customers to cancel reservations
- The strike was the first open-ended strike in 22 years
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas workers went on strike in November 2024
The union had been fighting for a new contract to secure better wages and benefits for its members. Specifically, they were seeking a five-year deal with higher wages and improved benefits. Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, however, claimed that the union's demands were not financially sustainable for the off-Strip property.
During the strike, picketing workers from the union maintained 24/7 picket lines around the property, urging customers to cancel their reservations or check out. They also targeted fellow unionists, including the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA), calling for their support. The strike caused disruptions, particularly due to the hotel's location just off the Las Vegas Strip and along a common route for tourists.
The strike ended in January 2025, after the union voted to ratify a new contract with Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. The specific terms of the new contract were not disclosed, but the union had been seeking significant pay raises, including what they described as a historic 32% increase in wages over five years.
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The strike was over a new contract with higher wages and better benefits
On November 15, 2024, hundreds of hospitality workers at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas went on strike, marking the first open-ended strike in 22 years for the Culinary Workers Union. The union, which represents 60,000 hospitality workers across Nevada, is fighting for a new contract with higher wages and better benefits.
The strike occurred after contract negotiations between Virgin Hotels and the Culinary Union broke down. The union has stated that the hotel's proposal is "'miles apart' from what they are demanding and that they refuse to settle for a "second-class contract". They are seeking a first-class contract with fair wage increases and better benefits.
In a statement, Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for the Culinary Union, said, "The contract at Virgin Las Vegas expired on June 1, 2023, and workers are fighting for a new contract that secures a better future for their families." He added that the union had proposed the largest wage increases ever negotiated in their history, as well as reduced workloads and better safety protections for workers.
The strike at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas follows a 48-hour work stoppage earlier in the year, in May 2023, as negotiations escalated. At the time, workers were hoping to pressure Virgin Hotels to agree to a new five-year deal with increased wages and improved benefits. Housekeepers, porters, bellhops, and servers were among those on the picket line outside the hotel-casino, which was formerly the Hard Rock Las Vegas.
The Las Vegas strike is part of a larger labor movement in the Southwest, with hotel workers demanding higher wages to keep up with the rising cost of living. The Culinary Union has not set a strike deadline and continues to negotiate with hotel operators.
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The Culinary Workers Union represents 60,000 hospitality workers across Nevada
The Culinary Workers Union, UNITE HERE Local 226, is a local union affiliated with UNITE HERE. It represents 60,000 hospitality workers across Nevada, making it the state's largest union. Members include a diverse range of occupations, such as dishwashers, waiters, and hotel housekeepers, organised along craft lines working in restaurants, hotels, laundries, casinos, Harry Reid International Airport, and Valley Hospital Medical Center. The union has been instrumental in improving the lives of its members and their families through union wages and benefits, winning a middle-class standard of living for over 800,000 hospitality workers since 1935.
The Culinary Workers Union has a significant political presence in Nevada, endorsing Democratic politicians and advocating for various causes. Its influence has been credited with impacting election outcomes and shaping policy decisions. The union actively supported initiatives like Senate Bill 4, which established COVID-19 workplace safety regulations, and Senate Bill 386, guaranteeing rehiring rights for laid-off hospitality workers.
In November 2024, the Culinary Workers Union made headlines when hundreds of its members went on strike at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, marking the union's first open-ended strike in 22 years. The strike was sparked by failed contract negotiations between the union and the hotel management. Around 700 hospitality workers participated in the job walkout, demanding a better contract to secure their future and that of their families.
The Culinary Workers Union has a history of advocating for its members' rights and improving their working conditions. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the union provided free health insurance and distributed food packages to its laid-off members. Additionally, they lobbied for crucial legislation, such as Senate Bill 4 and Senate Bill 386, protecting hospitality workers' safety and job security during the pandemic.
The union's membership has grown significantly over the years, rising from 18,000 in 1987 to 60,000 today. This growth has occurred even as labour union membership has declined nationwide. The Culinary Workers Union's influence extends beyond its large membership, as it continues to shape the political and economic landscape of Nevada.
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The union called for 24/7 picket lines and urged customers to cancel reservations
On November 15, 2024, hundreds of hospitality workers at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas went on strike. This was the first open-ended strike in 22 years for the Culinary Workers Union, which represents 60,000 hospitality workers across Nevada. The union called for 24/7 picket lines around the property during the strike and urged customers to cancel their reservations or check out and stay elsewhere.
The strike occurred after contract negotiations between the hotel and the union broke down. The union's contract covering about 700 employees expired in June 2023, and the union was seeking a new contract with fair wage increases. Virgin Hotels proposed a contract with no wage increases during the first three years of a new five-year contract, which the union rejected.
Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for the Culinary Union, stated that the Virgin Las Vegas proposal was "miles apart" from what the union wanted and was an "insult to every worker." He also emphasized that workers deserved a first-class contract with fair wage increases and were organized and ready to strike for it.
The strike at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas followed a 48-hour work stoppage earlier in the year, where workers walked off the job to pressure the hotel into agreeing to a new five-year deal with higher wages and improved benefits. The union's previous contract had included about 40,000 workers at major hotel-casinos on the Strip, downtown, and at off-Strip properties.
The Culinary Union is Nevada's largest labor union, and its members include guest room attendants, cocktail and food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks, bartenders, and kitchen workers. The union has been advocating for higher wages that keep up with the rising cost of living and better working conditions for its members.
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The strike was the first open-ended strike in 22 years
On November 15, 2024, hundreds of hospitality workers at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas went on strike, marking the first open-ended strike in 22 years for the Culinary Workers Union. The union, which represents 60,000 hospitality workers across Nevada, is fighting for a new contract that includes higher wages and better benefits. This comes after a two-day strike earlier in the year, which took place in May 2023, as negotiations escalated, and the union attempted to pressure Virgin Hotels to agree to a new five-year deal.
The strike action on November 15 specifically involved around 700 workers walking off the job at 5 a.m., with picketing workers outside the hotel 24 hours a day until the strike ends. The union has urged customers to cancel reservations, check out, and not to cross the strike line in solidarity with the workers.
The contract at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas expired on June 1, 2023, and the union has been negotiating for a new contract that includes wage increases and improved benefits. However, Virgin Hotels has proposed a contract with no wage increases during the first three years, which the union has rejected. The hotel has since agreed to some wage increases before the fourth year of a new contract, but this proposal was also declined.
The Culinary Workers Union is Nevada's largest union, and this strike is the first open-ended strike in 22 years since 2002, when union members struck for 10 days at the Golden Gate hotel-casino in downtown Las Vegas. The 2024 strike at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is a significant development in the ongoing fight for better wages and working conditions for hospitality workers in Las Vegas and across the United States.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, hundreds of Las Vegas hospitality workers are on strike at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas near the Las Vegas Strip.
The workers are on strike due to failed contract negotiations with Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. The workers are demanding a new contract with higher wages and better benefits.
The Culinary Workers Union, also known as the Culinary Union, is involved in the strike. It is Nevada's largest union with more than 60,000 workers.
The workers went on strike on Friday, November 15, 2024, just before dawn. This is the first open-ended strike in 22 years for the Culinary Workers Union.
As of now, there are no upcoming strikes planned by the Las Vegas hospitality workers. However, in the past, there have been threats of strikes by the Culinary Union and other unions, which have been averted after reaching contract agreements.
