Workers at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas go on strike for the first time in more than two decades

The strike initiated by the Culinary Workers Union against Virgin Hotels Las Vegas began on Friday and is set to continue until Sunday. Approximately 700 union workers went on strike after their contract expired nearly a year ago. Negotiations between the union and Virgin Hotels have been ongoing for five months, with no agreement reached on a wage increase for workers. The hotel missed a strike deadline, leading to the current strike.

Union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge expressed the workers’ need for a raise, stating that the company has offered zero wage increases during negotiations. The union has set up a 24/7 picket outside the hotel to dissuade patrons from supporting the business. The strike coincided with Mother’s Day celebrations for Latinos from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Belize, and will continue through the U.S. holiday.

Virgin Hotels stated that a negotiation meeting was canceled by the union, which the union denied. The hotel filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that the Culinary Workers Union has not negotiated in good faith and has threatened employees who do not support the union.

Negotiations are scheduled to resume on May 14, just days before a performance by Lee Price at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on May 17 and ahead of the Formula One Grand Prix in Las Vegas in November. The union, representing 60,000 hospitality workers in Nevada, is the largest in the state, with the majority of members being female and immigrants.

This strike follows a previous strike threat against MGM, Caesar’s, and Wynn Resort, which was called off by the Culinary Workers Union. While the other resorts are established hotels on the Vegas strip, Virgin Hotels, which opened in March 2021, is experiencing its first labor strike.