Las Vegas on Strike!
UNI Gaming Global Union supports the affiliates of UNITE HERE, Culinary Workers Local 226 and Bartenders Local 165, going on strike on June 1 to demand decent wages and working conditions. You can also show your support for Las Vegas workers sharing the news and putting support messages on Facebook and Twitter (https://twitter.com/culinary226).
See the press press release below (in other languages - at http://www.culinaryunion226.org/news/press/las-vegas-on-strike):
The Culinary and Bartenders Unions have called for a strike against nine casinos in Las Vegas Downtown starting on June 1, 2014. The strike will last until a fair contract settlement is reached.
At 5 a.m. on June 1, restaurant workers, hotel housekeepers, cocktail servers, bartenders, and other members of the unions will walk off their jobs and start 24/7 picketing of The D, Four Queens, Binion’s, Fremont, Main Street Station, Plaza, Las Vegas Club, El Cortez, and Golden Gate.
“For nearly 80 years, our unions have made casino jobs good jobs in Las Vegas,” said Geoconda Arguello-Kline, leader of the Culinary Union. “Our members Downtown deserve to earn a decent living by working hard under a fair contract. They should not be left behind as hundreds of millions of new investments pour in for Downtown revitalization.”
“I will strike for the opportunity to provide for my family,” said Ron Gladstone, a cook at The D Hotel and Casino. “My coworkers and I will strike to make sure that these jobs continue to be good jobs with affordable benefits, fair wages, and job security.”
“We are the people who clean the rooms, cook the food, serve the drinks, and provide the quality service that has made the tourism industry flourish in Las Vegas,” said Patricia Montes, a housekeeper at the Four Queens. “We are the backbone of Downtown Las Vegas and we ask that the community support us by not crossing strike lines.”
Union members from all nine unsettled properties have been picketing in Downtown Las Vegas after contracts were terminated. They have also been signing up for strike benefits and strike picket shifts since the strike authorization vote on March 27.
Culinary Workers Local 226 and Bartenders Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE, represent over 55,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including at most of casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas. UNITE HERE represents 270,000 hospitality workers in gaming, hotel, and food service industries in North America.