UPDATE (Jan. 24) — The Culinary Union announced Tuesday night they reached a tentative agreement for a five-year contract with Strat for 700 employees. On Wednesday, the union reached a contract for 500 more workers at Hilton Grand Vacation.
Negotiations continue with 16 additional properties in the Las Vegas Valley.
Earlier in the day, the union announced an information picket for Friday, Jan. 16 in downtown Las Vegas outside Circa, Golden Nugget and Fremont Hotel and Casino.
At this time, the union "is not urging customers and community allies to avoid crossing the picket line on Friday evening," they said in a media statement.
ORIGINAL REPORT (Jan. 22) — Ahead of their Feb. 2 strike deadline, the Culinary Union has reached tentative deals with two properties.
On Thursday, the union announced a tentative agreement for a five-year contract with Trump Hotel Las Vegas for 350 workers, calling the deal in a statement, the "best contract ever."
On Saturday, the union negotiated a tentative agreement with Westgate for 1,000 employees.
"I’m really happy that we got this contract. I’m excited that the working people of Las Vegas are going to get the money they need to live fruitful lives," said Brian Torres, a food runner for Westgate, in a written statement.
The initial strike deadline was set for 7,700 workers across the Las Vegas Strip and downtown. If agreements are not met by 5 a.m. on Feb. 2, the union may call for a strike at individual properties.
"Workers at the other Strip Independents and Downtown deserve the same wage increases, benefit protections, safety and technology language, and reductions in workloads as the rest of the Strip and they are organized and ready to fight for it. No one wants to strike, but workers are serious and will strike if they have to and the Culinary Union has their back every step of the way," said Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer of the union, in a partial statement.
The union continues to be in negotiations with Hilton Grand Vacations, Strat, Circus Circus, Sahara, The D, Circa, Golden Gate, Treasure Island, Waldorf and Grand Sierra Resort in Reno.
An informational picket was held outside of Sahara on Friday.
Last year, the union reached historic deals with MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment and Wynn Resorts.
