Las Vegas workers approve strike
The first strike in more than three decades could be authorised at any time starting June 1st.
US.- Over 30 properties in Las Vegas could be seriously affected as union members voted on Tuesday night to authorise a strike at any time starting June 1st. The union last voted for a strike in 2002 but managed to reach a deal before employees walked out.
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.
The union last voted for a strike in 2002 but reached a deal before employees walked out. However, the last strike that took place in 1984 lasted for 67 days and cost the city tens of millions of dollars. This time, bartenders, housekeepers, cocktail and food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks and other kitchen workers could stop their jobs and affect properties like Caesars Palace, Bellagio, MGM Grand and Planet Hollywood.
Lewis Thomas, a utility porter at the Tropicana casino-hotel, said: “I’m here to show the younger generations that this is the way we fight to maintain our jobs, job security, health benefits and to gain a pay raise. This will be a wake-up call to let (the companies) know we are together, we are united, we are not separated.”
Contracts of 50,000 unionised workers will expire on May 31st, and the negotiations with individual casino operators haven’t made any progress for new terms. Officials said that they are seeking a wage increase, as well to protect job security against the increasing use of technology at hotel-casinos, and strengthen language against sexual harassment.
