“I believe we will come to a deal today. We know from listening to our employees that they are looking for a pay increase to combat inflation, among other concerns,”
But the union's tentative agreement with Caesars appeared to be providing the momentum needed for the union to win new contracts for all 35,000 of its members who have been working under expired contracts at 18 hotel-casinos.
“As soon as one company reaches a deal, the others just fall right in line,” said
The breakthrough pact with Caesars came after 20 straight hours of bargaining that began Tuesday and stretched into Wednesday morning, the union said.
Caesars said in a statement that the agreement “recognizes the integral contributions our Team Members have made to the success we have seen in
The contract, which is pending approval by the union's rank and file, would cover properties including the company's flagship Caesars Palace and Flamingo, Harrah’s, Horseshoe,
The only item on his itinerary? A dinner reservation with a friend at one of his favorite restaurants — Bacchanal, the luxury buffet at
Guray said he didn't know that tens of thousands of hotel workers were in the middle of contract negotiations before he planned his trip. But he said if a tentative contract hadn't been reached and a strike coincided with his travel plans, he would have ditched his dinner reservations.
“I try to stand in solidarity with other workers,” he said. “Life can be hard out there so I understand what they're fighting for.”
A sweeping walkout could still happen if the union cannot make deals with
A strike by workers at the two remaining companies would cut to the heart of the city's economic backbone and significantly disrupt operations at some of the most recognizable
It would also be the latest in a series of high-profile actions nationwide in what has been a big year for labor unions. That includes walkouts in
The inaugural Las
The hospitality workers say they will strike for as long as it takes to get fair contracts — from the housekeepers and utility porters who work behind the scenes to keep the Strip’s mega-resorts humming, to the bartenders and cocktail servers who provide the customer service that has helped make
“I am willing to go on strike because I have a 10-year-old daughter who comes to negotiations with me, and she is going to inherit all of this," Thomas said. “I refuse to sit back and watch what we’ve built crumble. I want my daughter to look at me and know I fought for a better future.”
Bargaining has been underway since April over pay, benefits, job security and working conditions, but negotiations ramped up in recent months after an overwhelming majority of union members voted in September to authorize a strike.
The vote was followed by large-scale rallies, including one last month that ended with the arrests of 58 workers who sat in the street and halted rush-hour traffic on one of the most recognizable stretches of the Strip. The workers called it a show of force ahead of any potential strike.
Members currently receive health insurance and earn about
The workers have also said they want better job security amid advancements in technology, as well as stronger security protections, including more safety buttons on casino floors.
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