Culinary Union presses case against Station Casinos at federal appeals court
The DC Circuit Court is hearing arguments over Red Rock Casino while an administrative trial against Station Casinos continues before the NLRB.
Key points:
– Culinary Union says federal government is pursuing one of the largest labour law enforcement actions in US history
– Case at DC Circuit involves allegations of anti-union activity at Red Rock Casino
– Separate NLRB trial is examining Station Casinos’ conduct at other Nevada properties
The Culinary Union has issued a statement as the DC Circuit Court of Appeals considers a case involving Red Rock Casino, while a related trial against Station Casinos proceeds before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Both cases focus on allegations of anti-union practices.
Union representatives said workers have testified before the NLRB about efforts by the company to undermine organising attempts. They argue that federal enforcement has been necessary due to what they describe as a lack of action by state regulators.
Culinary Union President Diana Valles said: “We are confident that the DC Circuit will uphold the NLRB’s ruling that Red Rock Casino committed egregious violations of the law and that the NLRB will find in the current trial that Station Casinos did so again on an even larger scale.”
Valles added: “It is outrageous that a major gaming company continues to operate with impunity in Nevada’s gaming industry, while the Gaming Control Board remains silent on one of its licensees.”
Good to know: In November 2024, the Culinary Union staged its first open-ended strike in more than two decades at Virgin Las Vegas, seeking a new five-year contract with wage increases and improved conditions
The federal government has framed its case as one of the largest labour law enforcement actions in US history. Station Casinos, which operates multiple Las Vegas properties, has faced long-running disputes with the Culinary Union, the largest hospitality workers’ union in Nevada.
While the DC Circuit case focuses on Red Rock Casino specifically, the ongoing NLRB administrative trial extends to a broader set of Station Casinos properties.
The union pledged to continue its efforts “before the NLRB, in a courtroom, in a casino employee dining room, on the public sidewalk, or anywhere the rights of working people are under attack.”
The outcome of these proceedings is expected to have significant implications not only for Station Casinos but also for wider labour relations across the Nevada gaming sector, where organising campaigns have escalated over the past two years.
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