Wynn Resorts and potential striking culinary workers have come to an agreement... just in time.
‘Big Three’ Las Vegas Strip resort operators Wynn Resorts, MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment have all been part of contract negotiations with Local Culinary Workers Union 226 for months ahead of a planned strike, and Wynn is now the last operator to reach a tentative agreement. The union announced negotiations had finished with both Caesars and MGM earlier this week.
The five-year contract agreement was the result of several months of negotiation and, if it had not been reached by 5:00AM PST today, a strike would have resulted just days before the Las Vegas Grand Prix takes to the streets of the city. The tentative agreement was finalised at 2:00AM PST, just in time.
Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union, said: “We are proud to say that this is the best contract and economic package we have ever won for in our 88-year history.
“Workers have secured significant raises every year for the next five years, preserved our great union health insurance, union pension and comprehensive union benefits, while gaining historic improvements in housekeeping workload reductions, substantial improvements for workers regarding safety at work, the ability to have a say in how technology impacts our work and ensuring the union and members can support non-union hospitality workers who seek to join our union.”
Though the full employment strike is now off, rallies had already taken place on the Las Vegas Strip with union workers carrying signs saying “One Job Should Be Enough.” Strikes across the country in Detroit, Michigan are currently ongoing, however, where workers are also asking for wage increases, a new healthcare plan, workload protections and job security.
Michael Weaver, Spokesperson for Wynn Las Vegas, said: “We strongly believe that only the most talented and empowered employees, working in an environment in which they feel valued and well compensated, can deliver our signature Wynn and Encore guest experiences.
“We are very pleased that we were able to reach an agreement with Culinary Workers Union Local 226, which fulfils our shared goal of providing outstanding benefits and overall compensation to our employees in a work environment that is second to none.”
