LAS VEGAS, NV—In the early hours of Friday, November 15, 2024, approximately 700 hospitality workers at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas initiated an open-ended strike, marking the Culinary Union’s first such action in 22 years. After contract talks between the union and the hotel came to a standstill, the strike started at five in the morning.
The Culinary Union, representing over 60,000 workers in Nevada, had previously engaged in a 48-hour strike at the same location in May 2024. The current strike follows the expiration of the workers’ contract on June 1, 2023, with union members advocating for improved terms to secure better futures for their families.
“The Virgin Las Vegas contract ended on June 1, 2023, and employees are fighting for a new contract that secures a better future for their families,” said Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union. In support of the workers, the Culinary Union has called for a strike at the Virgin Las Vegas on Friday, November 15, and encourages residents and visitors to stay inside the strike line.
The union has organized continuous picketing outside the hotel, maintaining a 24-hour presence until a resolution is achieved. Notably, no workers from other Las Vegas hotels have been called to join the strike at this time.
This labor action underscores ongoing tensions in the hospitality industry as workers seek equitable contracts and improved working conditions. The outcome of this strike may have significant implications for labor relations within the Las Vegas hospitality sector.
