Members from the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 protested outside eight MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment casinos Thursday, several weeks after union members voted to authorize a citywide strike. The union, which represents about 60,000 Nevada hospitality workers, is pushing for wage increases, enhanced job safety protections, and higher severance pay for certain laid-off workers, under a new five-year contract.
Protection of healthcare benefits is also an important issue for the union. At present, the union views its benefits as among the most generous in the nation. Workers do not pay out of pocket for health coverage for themselves, their spouses, and their children.
“We’d like to keep that, that’s really the bottom line,” a cocktail waitress who has worked at The Flamingo for the past 34 years told US Bets at Thursday’s rally.
Earlier Thursday, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris met with union representatives at their Las Vegas headquarters. Asked if she will lend support to the union if there is a strike, Harris provided affirmation, according to union leadership.