Las Vegas workers could go on strike

Casino workers in Las Vegas are voting whether to start a strike or not.

US.- Workers of Las Vegas casinos, including culinary and bartender union workers, announced that they are discussing whether to set a strike or not this week. Workers are going to vote this week to define the situation: “No contract, no peace,” and “Vegas is a union town,” were the principal statements.

“Casino operators on the Las Vegas Strip and downtown Las Vegas representing 34 resorts — including properties operated by MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment Corp., Penn National, Golden Entertainment, and Boyd Gaming Corp. — have been unable to reach a new, five-year contract since talks kicked off in February,” stated the union’s report.

“We are ready to walk if we don’t get the contract. Even if it means striking one month, two months or a year,” said Lewis Thomas, a 59-year old utility porter worker at the Tropicana casino hotel, speaking to Review Journal.

Over 30 properties in Las Vegas are at risk of facing a strike among unionised housekeepers, bartenders, servers and other key employees. Workers are demanding an update of their contracts, which will expire next week. Tens of thousands of contracts are at risk if employees cannot reach an agreement with casino hotel operators.

“On May 22, thousands of union members will show casino employers that workers are going to fight for security and that they are not going to be left behind as companies are making record profits and getting windfall tax breaks,” Geoconda Argüello-Kline, union secretary-treasurer, said in a statement.