Culinary Union Secures Contract with Virgin Hotels, Ends Strike

The Culinary Workers Union Local 226 has finally struck a deal with Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, ending a months-long strike. The off-Strip property was embroiled in this conflict for quite some time following the expiration of its previous contract with the union.

The End of a Long Battle

The Culinary Union’s previous contract with Virgin Hotels expired in June 2023, triggering the start of intense negotiations for a new one. Unfortunately, the employees and employers were not on the same page, which exacerbated the issue.

While the casino management tried to reach a compromise several times before, its terms were rejected by the union, which slammed its proposals as “second-class” contracts. In November, the union initiated a strike, which lasted for 69 days. This was notably the first time the union had gone on a strike since 2002.

The strike was very prominent and saw union members maintain picket lines outside the property. Virgin Hotels is located next to the famed Las Vegas Strip in a fairly high-traffic and visible area. Workers also blocked traffic and did their best to raise awareness of their fight for living wages.  

The strike received significant support from many people, including a famous comedian who canceled their show in solidarity with the striking workers.

The Terms Have Been Set

According to the union’s latest announcement, the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 have come to an agreement on the terms upon which to settle a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

On X, the union confirmed that its members are pleased to have concluded their negotiations. Representatives added that they are looking forward to “fostering a positive and collaborative working relationship” with the casino resort.  

Parties are committed to the resolution of our dispute and to maintaining a union standard at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas that provides for its team members’ families and fosters a better community for all.

Culinary Union statement

Reports say that the Culinary Union members unanimously approved the new contract and expressed relief that they will finally be able to return back to work while getting a paycheck that corresponds to their contributions.

The new contract will affect hundreds of casino employees and likely includes changes, such as paycheck increases across the board. This would reflect similar contracts across other Las Vegas casinos that have seen workers secure better conditions.

Fontainebleau Also Reached an Agreement with the Union

In December, Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Sin City’s most recent Strip casino hotel, also succeeded in reaching an agreement with the Culinary Union. While not much was confirmed, the announcement said that the deal covered close to 3,300 non-gaming employees at the property.

Workers at that property were likewise relieved to have finally secured a deal. One employee posted that they felt blessed and lucky that the union got this contract.