The recent labor agreements in Las Vegas’s hospitality sector mark a significant milestone for workers’ rights and job stability. The Culinary Workers Union Local 226 alongside Bartenders Union Local 165 have successfully negotiated new contracts with prominent establishments such as Inns World Las Vegas and The Cosmopolitan. These agreements, spanning three years, will benefit nearly 4,500 employees across these properties. Union leadership describes these deals as some of the most substantial in the union’s nearly century-long history, reflecting a major victory for hospitality workers in the region.
Remarkable Wage Growth and Enhanced Employee Protections Achieved
The negotiations culminated in what union representatives are calling historic salary increases and strengthened job safeguards. These contracts establish a precedent for other Las Vegas Strip hotels to follow, emphasizing fair compensation and secure working conditions. The agreements are set to remain in effect until September 2028.
Notably, The Cosmopolitan’s contract is the first negotiated under MGM Resorts International’s ownership. It encompasses approximately 2,500 non-gaming staff members and introduces several key improvements, including daily room cleaning standards, reduced workload quotas for housekeeping personnel, and enhanced health and safety protocols at work sites.
Union representatives emphasized that these agreements uphold longstanding labor standards and provide protections against emerging technological challenges. The contracts now include provisions for ongoing training, continuous healthcare coverage, and privacy rights for employees potentially affected by automation or surveillance systems. Additionally, workers retain the right to negotiate over skills-related changes that could impact their roles.
Las Vegas Reinforces Its Status as a Hub for Secure Hospitality Careers
Ted Pappageorge, the union’s secretary-treasurer, highlighted that these agreements reinforce Las Vegas’s reputation as a city where hospitality professionals can earn a living wage and maintain stable, long-term careers. He credited grassroots organizing and community activism for these successes, noting that unions now represent workers across all properties on the Las Vegas Strip.
Employees at the affected venues expressed optimism about the new terms. They pointed to increased wages, improved working conditions, and stronger safety measures as major achievements. Housekeepers, laundry staff, and bellhops shared that the contracts will provide them with greater financial security and a sense of pride and stability in their jobs, according to reports from the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Meanwhile, at Harry Reid International Airport, a separate five-year agreement was finalized, covering over 1,100 food and beverage workers. Negotiations are ongoing for an additional 400 employees working at fast-food outlets within the airport. While these agreements await ratification, the Culinary Union continues to advocate for similar protections for workers at other non-unionized venues across the city.
These recent victories are part of a broader strategy to uphold high employment standards within Nevada’s hospitality and tourism industry. They bolster the Culinary Union’s position as a leading advocate for workers’ rights, ensuring that the state remains a competitive and fair environment for hospitality professionals.
