Caesars and MGM set deal with workers

Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts have avoided a workers’ strike in Las Vegas.

US.- As workers of Las Vegas casinos threatened the biggest operators with a strike this month, Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts revealed that during the weekend both companies have reached an agreement with the union in order to avoid the strike on their casinos in the most visited gaming hub in the world.

Caesars Entertainment operates nine of the Las Vegas resorts and casinos that were threatened with the strike. Meanwhile, MGM Resorts operations cover 24,000 workers at its 10 Las Vegas casinos. Unionised workers, however, have not reached agreements with other 15 gaming and touristic venues in the city.

Last week workers decided to set a strike for this week in order to demand a series of rights and new contracts with operators. The contracts of 50,000 unionised workers expired on May 31st and the negotiations with individual casino operators hadn’t made any progress for new terms. Officials said that they are seeking a wage increase as well as protection against the increasing use of technology at hotel-casinos. They also want to improve powers against sexual harassment.

Approximately 25,000 members of the Culinary Union who work at 34 different casino-resorts in Las Vegas cast ballots in two sessions. The negotiations revolve around the need to solidify new five-year contracts, and if the strike actually happens, it would mean losing workers with critical roles to making casinos run.