Unions drop MGM safety lawsuits
The Culinary Union will negotiate directly with MGM after accusing casinos of putting staff at risk through a lack of Covid-19 measures.
US.- The Culinary Union and the Bartenders Union have dropped legal action against two MGM Resorts casinos in which it accused them of putting workers at risk through a lack of Covid-19 safety measures.
The unions say they have removed The Signature at MGM Grand and Sadelle’s Cafe at Bellagio from the lawsuit after reaching an agreement with MGM to enter “expedited arbitration” between the company and a union-appointed board,
However, the unions are still pursuing legal action against Caesars Entertainment, operator of Harrah’s Las Vegas. They claim Caesars only “encouraged” rather than required hotel guests and casino players to use facial coverings to help protect against the spread of Covid-19.
The unions filed their lawsuit at the Las Vegas District Court on June 20 seeking a court order to force the casino operators companies to tighten safety measures.
MGM called the lawsuit “frivolous” and said in a statement: “We hope that the Culinary Union will work collaboratively with us in the future when it comes to health and safety issues.”
Culinary Union executive Geoconda Argüello-Kline said the union viewed it as a victory that it was able to drop legal action against MGM and negotiate directly.
She said: “Workers who make this city run deserve to be protected and they are at risk,” adding that 22 Culinary Union members and family members had died from Covid-19 since March 1.
