The Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, which represent a significant portion of casino workers in Las Vegas, have announced tentative contract agreements with Resorts World Las Vegas and The Cosmopolitan. These agreements, which cover approximately 4,500 employees, mark a historic achievement with the largest wage increases ever negotiated in the union’s 90-year history. The new three-year contracts are set to expire on September 30, 2028, aligning with other agreements on the Strip.
Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for the Culinary Union, emphasized the hard-earned nature of this victory, attributing it to persistent worker organizing and determination. He highlighted the union’s role in establishing Las Vegas hospitality jobs as family-sustaining positions and celebrated the achievement of a fully unionized Las Vegas Strip.
Union members express satisfaction with the agreements, noting significant benefits such as fair wage increases, enhanced job protections, and improved working conditions. The contract at The Cosmopolitan is particularly noteworthy as it is the first since the property’s acquisition by MGM Resorts International.
The Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 are part of UNITE HERE and collectively represent nearly 60,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including most casinos on the Las Vegas Strip and downtown. A ratification vote for the new agreements will be scheduled soon.