Culinary Workers Union

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its negative impacts on the Nevada tourist industry, more than 98% of the union's members became unemployed in 2020. During the pandemic, the union provided 18 months of free health insurance to laid-off members and distributed over 475,000 baskets of food to hospitality workers' families in need. It also lobbied for Nevada's Senate Bill 4, which instituted COVID-19 workplace safety regulations for the state's hospitality industry, and Senate Bill 386, which guaranteed laid-off hospitality workers the right to be rehired into their old jobs when casinos and other businesses reopened.{{Cite web |date=2021-12-15 |title=How the Mighty Culinary Union Survived the Apocalypse |url=https://inthesetimes.com/article/vegas-culinary-union-pandemic-shutdown-workers |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=In These Times |language=en}}

In spite of the fact that all Las Vegas resorts were unionized by September 2024, Culinary Union members at the Las Vegas Virgin Hotel & Casino have been without a labor contract since the previous one expired in June 2023.{{cite news|url=https://www.ktnv.com/news/23-culinary-union-members-arrested-during-picket-outside-virgin-hotels-las-vegas|title=23 Culinary Union members arrested during picket outside Virgin Hotels Las Vegas|first=Christian|last=Hudspeth|publisher=KTNV|date=August 30, 2024|accessdate=October 8, 2024}} The Virgin Hotels Las Vegas has been a key target for the Culinary Workers Union. A limited two day strike at the hotel would be held form May 10–11, 2024.{{cite web |first=Noelle |last=Mateer |title=Virgin hotel labor dispute remains holdout in Las Vegas |url=https://www.hoteldive.com/news/virgin-las-vegas-labor-dispute-holdout/717209/ |date=May 28, 2024 |website=Hotel Dive |access-date=November 15, 2024}} On November 15, 2024, 700 workers at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas went on an indefinite, open-ended strike.{{cite news |last=Yamat |first=Rio |date=November 15, 2024 |title=Hundreds of hotel workers go on strike at a casino near the Las Vegas Strip |url= |accessdate= |publisher=Associated Press}}{{cite news|url=https://www.fox5vegas.com/2024/11/15/las-vegas-union-begins-strike-virgin-hotels-after-failed-negotiations/|title=Las Vegas union begins strike at Virgin Hotels after failed negotiations|first=Rachel|last=Zalucki|publisher=KVVU-TV|date=November 15, 2024|accessdate=November 15, 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.news3lv.com/news/local/hospitality-workers-launch-strike-virgin-hotels-las-vegas-culinary-union-organized-labor-southern-nevada-business-wages|title=Hospitality workers launch strike at Virgin Hotels LasVegas|first=Fidel|last=Moreno-Meza|publisher=KSNV|date=November 15, 2024|accessdate=November 15, 2024}} This would be the Culinary Worker's Union's first open-ended strike in Las Vegas since 2002.{{cite news|url=https://news3lv.com/news/local/culinary-union-strike-at-virgin-hotels-las-vegas-enters-fifth-day|title=Culinary Union strike at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas enters fifth day|first=Fidel|last=Moreno-Meza|publisher=KSNV|date=November 19, 2024|accessdate=November 20, 2024}} Unlike the previous labor strike which took place earlier in the year which only last for two days, the November 2024 Virgin Hotels Las Vegas strike will last until a new labor deal is reached, with workers picketing around the hotel 24/7. However, despite managing to get an open-ended strike, Virgin Hotels Las Vegas remains operational, with the hotel managing to successfully hire temporary workers.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/video/culinary-union-strike-continues-against-virgin-hotels-in-las-vegas/|title=Culinary union strike continues against Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas|publisher=CBS News|date=November 20, 2024|accessdate=November 20, 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.fox5vegas.com/2024/11/18/las-vegas-strip-hotel-workers-picket-solidarity-with-virgin-hotels-strike/|title=Las Vegas Strip hotel workers picket in solidarity with Virgin Hotels strike|first=Shawna|last=Khalafi|publisher=KVVU-TV|date=November 18, 2024|accessdate=November 20, 2024}} The Virgin Hotel Las Vegas would also remain open for people attending the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix.{{cite news|url=https://nevadabusiness.com/2024/11/virgin-hotels-las-vegas-grand-prix-2024-entertainment-listing/|title=Virgin Hotels Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024 Entertainment Listing|first=Kirvin|last=Doak|publisher=Nevada Business|date=November 22, 2024|accessdate=November 22, 2024}}

Starting November 21, 2024, the strike at the Virgin Hotel Las Vegas would also include civil disobedience.{{cite news|url=https://www.fox5vegas.com/2024/11/20/las-vegas-culinary-union-host-civil-disobedience-virgin-hotels-during-strike/|title=Las Vegas Culinary Union to host civil disobedience at Virgin Hotels during strike|first=Justine|last=Verastigue|publisher=KVVU-TV|date=November 19, 2024|accessdate=November 20, 2024}} The first day of civil disobedience at the hotel saw 57 people arrested for intentionally blocking a road, including President Diana Valles and Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge.{{cite news|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/57-arrested-in-culinary-strike-at-virgin-las-vegas-3216488/|title=57 arrested in Culinary strike at Virgin Las Vegas|first=McKenna|last=Ross|publisher=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=November 22, 2024|access-date=November 22, 2024 | quote=Nearly 60 Culinary Local 226 members were arrested Thursday in a “civil disobedience” demonstration in front of a striking hotel-casino. Hospitality workers at Virgin Hotels, a resort-casino located about a mile east of the Las Vegas Strip, were arrested for blocking traffic around 6 p.m. when about 57 people, including Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge and President Diana Valles, sat on Paradise Road in a nonviolent protest.}} On December 3, 2024, management at the hotel reported that Virgin Hotels Las Vegas was now in financial distress, criticizing the Culinary Union's demands.{{cite news|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2024/dec/03/virgin-hotels-says-it-must-protect-its-financial-h/|title=Virgin Hotels says it must protect its financial health as strike in Las Vegas drags on|first=Kyle|last=Chouinard|publisher=Las Vegas Sun|date=December 3, 2024|accessdate=December 4, 2024}} Management also reported that in spite of the ongoing strike, 60% of the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas workers who are Culinary Union members were already working at the hotel again. All 700 striking workers at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas held a public meeting with the Las Vegas-based Nevada Gaming Control Board on December 4, 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.culinaryunion226.org/news/press/culinary-union-virgin-lv-strikers-nv-gaming-control-board-dec4|title=Culinary Union to bring Virgin Las Vegas strikers to the Nevada Gaming Control Board to provide public comment|publisher=Culinary Workers Union Local 226|date=December 4, 2024|accessdate=December 4, 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.actionnetwork.com/news/hospitality-workers-taking-contract-fight-to-nevada-gaming-control-board|title=Hospitality Workers Taking Contract Fight to Nevada Gaming Control Board|first=Dave|last=Grendzynski|publisher=Action Network|date=December 4, 2024|accessdate=December 4, 2024}}

The strike ended after 69 days, when a contract was ratified in January 2025;{{Cite web |date=2025-01-22 |title=Las Vegas hotel workers union reaches deal with casino to end longest strike in decades |url=https://apnews.com/article/las-vegas-casino-strike-culinary-union-3c70eb64acf95c74fefeee9072734263 |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=AP News |language=en}} workers approved a new five-year contract which will increase their pay by 32% over five years, with the average worker's pay increasing from $28 per hour to $37 per hour (including benefits). {{ cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2025-01-23/las-vegas-hotel-workers-union-reaches-deal-with-casino-to-end-strike | title=Las Vegas hotel workers union reaches deal with casino to end strike | last=Hussain | first=Suhauna | newspaper=Los Angeles Times | date=2025-01-23 }}

The union is an influential supporter of Democratic politicians and causes in the state of Nevada. Jon Ralston has credited its voter education and turnout operations for Democrats' statewide, state legislative, and congressional victories in 2016, 2018, and 2020, and for maintaining many of these gains in 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-20 |title=In Election '22, the Reid Machine showed it is very much alive |url=https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/in-election-22-the-reid-machine-showed-it-is-very-much-alive |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=The Nevada Independent |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Ralston Reports: Culinary Union could serve up a blue Nevada |url=https://www.rgj.com/story/news/politics/2016/10/25/ralston-reports-culinary-union-could-serve-up-blue-nevada/92751424/ |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=Reno Gazette Journal |language=en-US}} According to The Nevada Independent, the union is "among the most singularly powerful political forces in Nevada"{{Cite web |date=2022-10-27 |title=Culinary Union canvassers seek to persuade voters one door knock at a time |url=https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/culinary-union-canvassers-seek-to-persuade-voters-one-door-knock-at-a-time |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=The Nevada Independent |language=en}} and is a "key cog in the [Reid] machine."

In January 2008, the union endorsed Illinois Senator Barack Obama over New York Senator Hillary Clinton during the 2008 Democratic caucuses.[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna22575934 Obama gains key labor backing in Nevada], MSNBC/The Associated Press, January 9, 2008

In February 2016, the union declined to endorse either Clinton or Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders during the caucuses, and later endorsed Clinton when she became the Democratic presidential nominee. She lost the general election to Donald Trump on November 8, 2016, though she won Nevada.[https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/19/us/politics/culinary-workers-union-wont-take-sides-in-nevada-democratic-caucuses.html], The New York Times, February 18, 2016[https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/270163-reid-powerful-union-come-to-clintons-aid/], The Hill, February 20, 2016

Yvanna Cancela, the political director for the union, was appointed to the Nevada Senate in 2017, and later became chief of staff to Nevada governor Steve Sisolak.{{Cite web |date=2017-02-04 |title=Yvanna Cancela wants to fight for working families as member of Nevada Senate |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada/yvanna-cancela-wants-to-fight-for-working-families-as-member-of-nevada-senate/ |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2021-08-09 |title=Sisolak picks former Sen. Yvanna Cancela as chief of staff |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-biden-cabinet-9043e8c9c3eb3ffef20ec131c8000cfe |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}

In December 2018, Bea Duran, a grievance representative for the Culinary Workers, was appointed to the Nevada State Assembly.{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Amanda |date=2018-12-19 |title=Nevada becomes first state with majority female legislature |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/18/us/nevada-female-legislature-trnd/index.html |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=CNN |language=en}}

In February 2020, the Union once again declined to endorse a candidate for that year's caucuses.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/13/politics/culinary-union-nevada-democratic-caucuses/index.html|last1=Bradner|first1=Eric|title=Nevada's powerful Culinary Union won't endorse in Democratic presidential race|date=February 13, 2020|publisher=CNN}} Their decision came after it circulated a flyer among members criticizing Sanders and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren's support for single-payer healthcare, which it argued would leave members with worse benefits.{{cite web|url=https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/in-new-flyer-culinary-union-warns-members-sanders-would-end-their-health-care-if-elected-president|last1=Messerly|first1=Megan|title=In new flyer, Culinary Union warns members Sanders would 'end' their health care if elected president|date=February 11, 2020|publisher=The Nevada Independent}} Some union leaders reported receiving threats after the flyer was published.{{Cite web|url=https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/culinary-union-officials-face-profanity-laced-attacks-after-scorecard-says-sanders-would-end-their-health-care|title=Culinary Union officials face profanity-laced attacks after scorecard says Sanders would 'end' their health care|website=thenevadaindependent.com|date=February 14, 2020 |language=en|access-date=2020-02-26}} Despite this warning, a majority of the union's members caucusing at one casino in Nevada voted for Sanders.{{cite news |last1=Prakash |first1=Nidhi |title=Members Of Nevada's Largest Union Defied Their Leadership To Support Bernie Sanders |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/nidhiprakash/bernie-sanders-nevada-caucus-culinary-union |accessdate=February 24, 2020 |work=BuzzFeed News |date=February 22, 2020}}

In January 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris visited Las Vegas to meet with members of the culinary union in what was billed as a "celebration" following the negotiation of the five-year contract with casino employers in the city. Harris thanked workers for "making a difference in the lives of people who you may never meet".{{Cite web |date=January 7, 2024 |title=Kamala Harris Returns to Las Vegas to Thank Casino Workers |url=https://www.casinos.com/us/news/kamala-harris-returns-to-las-vegas-to-thank-casino-workers |access-date=January 25, 2024 |website=Casinos.com |language=en}} She was joined by Labor Secretary Julie Su, alongside a host of Nevada politicians who also spoke at the event. Many union members attended and wore bright red T-shirts, hats, and sweatshirts bearing the messages “Vegas Strong” and “One Job Should Be Enough.”{{Cite web |date=January 4, 2024 |title=Harris praises Culinary on contracts in Las Vegas visit |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2024/jan/04/harris-praises-culinary-on-new-contracts/ |access-date=January 25, 2024 |website=lasvegassun.com |language=en}}

:1954: Al Bramlet{{cite book |last1=Hayes |first1=Paul Everett |title=STRATEGIC INTEGRATION, CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION, AND COMPREHENSIVE CONTRACT CAMPAIGN EFFECTIVENESS: A CASE STUDY OF THE CULINARY WORKERS UNION, HERE LOCAL 226'S 2002 COMPREHENSIVE CONTRACT CAMPAIGN |date=2006 |publisher=Cornell University |url=https://ecommons.cornell.edu/bitstream/handle/1813/2594/Paul%20Hayes%20Thesis%20Draft%20III%20formatted%20edited.pdf |access-date=6 February 2023}}

:1977: Ben Schmoutey

:1981: Jeff McColl

:1987: Jim Arnold

:2002: D. Taylor

:2012: Geoconda Argüello-Kline{{cite web |title=Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Culinary Union's Argüello-Kline Retires After 32 Years of Fighting for Union Members in Nevada |url=https://aflcio.org/2022/2/15/service-solidarity-spotlight-culinary-unions-arguello-kline-retires-after-32-years |website=AFL-CIO |date=February 15, 2022 |access-date=6 February 2023}}

:2022: Ted Pappageorge{{cite web |title=Ted Pappageorge |url=https://www.culinaryunion226.org/union/officers/ted-pappageorge |website=Culinary Workers Union |access-date=6 February 2023}}

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|1=https://www.culinaryunion226.org/|2=Culinary Workers Union official website}}
• [http://www.herelocal165.org Bartenders Local 165 Website]

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Category:Economy of Nevada

Category:Hospitality industry trade unions

Category:Trade unions established in 1935

Category:Trade unions in Nevada

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Category:1935 establishments in Nevada