by Li Jackson, Exhibit City News
The Culinary and Bartenders Unions are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking tentative agreement for a new five-year contract with Wynn Resorts, covering over 5,000 employees in Las Vegas. The deal, reached on Friday, November 10, 2023, at 2:00 am, encompasses two iconic properties: Wynn and Encore.
In this historic accord, the Culinary Union has secured the largest wage increases in its 88-year history, alongside workload reductions for guest room attendants, mandated daily room cleaning, heightened safety measures, expanded technology contract language, extended recall rights, and the right to support non-union workers seeking to unionize.
While detailed specifics remain confidential to allow unionized workers a chance to review and vote on the contract, the union emphasizes the monumental strides made in negotiations.
“After 7 months of negotiations, we are proud to say that this is the best contract and economic package we have ever won in our 88-year history,” exclaimed Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union.
Key highlights of the agreement include significant annual raises for the next five years, the preservation of union health insurance and pension benefits, improved workload conditions, enhanced safety provisions, and support for non-union workers aiming to join the union.
Wynn Resorts has shown commitment to its employees, with Michael Weaver, Spokesperson for Wynn Las Vegas, expressing the belief that empowered and valued employees are crucial for delivering outstanding guest experiences.
The ratification vote by the membership is on the horizon, and in light of the tentative agreement, there will be no strike on Wynn Resorts properties, as initially announced for November 10, 2023.
“I feel accomplished that we won the best contract ever! I worked hard in negotiations to represent my co-workers and to win a better life for my family,” said Araceli Villa Lobos, a Kitchen Worker at Wynn and Culinary Union member for 16 years.
The new agreement addresses concerns and aspirations of various workers, including bellmen and uniform control attendants, all expressing satisfaction with the economic wage increases, job security provisions, and improved benefits.
The Culinary Union and Bartenders Unions are also pleased to announce that a tentative agreement for a new five-year contract has been reached with MGM Resorts International covering over 25,400 of the company’s employees in Las Vegas less than 24 hours before the strike deadline.
The five-year contract covers eight Las Vegas MGM Resorts International casino resorts: Aria, Bellagio, Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, New York-New York, and Park MGM.
“Our employees are the heart of our company and the driving force in the success we’ve enjoyed in Las Vegas post-pandemic. We’re pleased to have reached a tentative agreement that averts a strike, gives our Culinary Union employees a well-earned boost to pay and benefits and reduces workloads – all while continuing to provide opportunities for growth and advancement,” said Bill Hornbuckle, President and CEO, MGM Resorts International. “We’re thankful to our employees and to the leadership of the Culinary and Bartenders Unions – especially Ted Pappageorge, Diana Valles, Terry Greenwald, and Lana Loebig, and their teams – who dedicated significant time and energy to negotiating this agreement that works for all parties.”
In summary, the Culinary and Bartenders Unions, through resilient negotiations, have achieved unprecedented gains in job security, wages, working conditions, and support for unionization efforts.
About Culinary Union:
Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE, represent 60,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno. The Culinary Union, with a diverse membership from 178 countries and over 40 languages, has been advocating for working families in Nevada for 88 years. They play a crucial role in the community, having helped over 18,000 immigrants become American citizens since 2001 through their affiliate, The Citizenship Project.
The Culinary Union remains a powerful force, with 55% women and 45% immigrant members, working in various roles, including guest room attendants, cocktail servers, porters, cooks, and more. Through the Culinary Health Fund, they are one of the largest healthcare consumers in the state, providing coverage for over 145,000 Nevadans, including members and their dependents.
Source and submission: Bethany Khan, Culinary Union226
Photo credits: Culinary 226 Facebook page
