Las Vegas Casinos Strike Off, as Workers, Bus Drivers Reach Agreements

Article ByDavid Weir

February 5, 2024

Spread the Word:

Posted in: Nevada Gambling News, US Casino News, US Gambling News

Las Vegas casino workers and bus drivers threatened strike action ahead of Super Bowl weekend. Now it looks like the unions have reached deals in most cases and strikes will not happen.

A dozen independent Nevada casinos in Las Vegas reached tentative agreements on new contracts with some 2,600 workers from the Culinary and Bartenders Union over the weekend. Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is the only remaining standout.

Meanwhile, workers from the Amalgamated Transit Union 1637 announced they had reached a tentative contract agreement with Transdev, the company that operates Las Vegas’ transit bus services.

The combined effects could have been a disaster for Nevada casinos in the lead-up to Sunday, February 11, when the Super Bowl will be held at Sin City’s Allegiant Stadium.

“These were tough negotiations, and it took over two years of preparation, 10 months of negotiations, lots of hard work, committee meetings, sleepless nights, and worker-led organizing,” said Ted Pappageorge, Culinary Union secretary-treasurer, in a statement issued Sunday.

Virgin Negotiations Continue

A dozen Las Vegas casinos, mostly in the downtown area, were given a reprieve until today, Monday February 5, before strike action would begin. At the 11^th hour, all casinos but Virgin Hotel Las Vegas have now reached preliminary agreements.

These new contracts proved acceptable to union negotiators, but must still be voted on by members themselves over the coming days.

Instead of striking, workers at Virgin Las Vegas have given the operator another week to wrap up its new contracts for some 200 staff.

“As negotiations continue to progress, the Culinary and Bartenders Unions have decided to give Virgin Hotel Las Vegas more time, and we expect a resolution on a new contract in the coming weeks,” Pappageorge said.

Proud Fair Share

This week’s successful negotiations avoided a strike and saw significant wage increases for thousands of Las Vegas gambling and hospitality workers. It was the second such victory for Sin City unions in recent times.

In November 2023, some 60,000 workers at the three major Las Vegas casino resort operators – Wynn Resorts, MGM Resorts International, and Caesars Entertainment – were potentially just hours away from starting a walkout when new contract agreements were reached.

With the Nevada gambling business booming amid record visitation to Las Vegas, it was an eventuality that workers would want increases in compensation.

“Culinary Union members comprise a major component of Nevada’s middle-class, and in these negotiations, we proudly won our fair share of record profits by securing historic protections and billions in raises for working families in Nevada,” said Pappageorge.

Final Offers

Meanwhile another set of ongoing discussions with workers also came to a conclusion over the Las Vegas weekend.

Some 1,200 members of the Amalgamated Transit Union 1637, mostly bus drivers, were set to walk out of work ahead of Super Bowl weekend.

With the city likely to be majorly congested, as some 300,000 extra visitors flock to the first Super Bowl to be held in the state, Nevada retail sportsbooks are looking towards a football betting bonanza.

However, with restrictions placed on Ubers, Lyfts and taxi cabs in the Allegiant Stadium area around the big game day and over the weekend, the buses are looking to be even more utilized than usual.

City planners can breathe a sigh of relief that new agreements have been reached between the union and route operator Transdev. The union members still have to vote to ratify the agreement, but leadership expects them to do so.

“We are very pleased with the outcome and are excited to present the final offer to our membership,” said ATU 1637 President Terry Richards.