Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Editorial: Negotiations on the Strip

The last time the Strip casinos and the Culinary Union met to renegotiate a contract, they were in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the economic downturn that followed.

It was a difficult time. The casinos were trying to recoup losses while the union saw thousands of members laid off.

Still, they came to an agreement fairly quickly, and both sides benefited. The union got a healthy contract and the casinos have basked in an economy that has since thrived.

The contract is up on June 1, and the union and casinos will meet before then to try to make a new deal. Culinary Union Local 226, which has about 50,000 workers covered under the contract, is expected to ask for a raise and keep its generous health care benefits.

One of the most contentious issues, though, is sure to be the right to organize workers at new properties on the Strip. Typically union contracts on the Strip include a provision called card-check neutrality. That provision allows the union to try to organize the workers and requires the company to recognize the union if it can get a majority of workers to sign cards in support of the union.

Industry insiders told Michael J. Mishak in a story earlier this month in the Las Vegas Sun that MGM Mirage, the largest casino operator on the Strip, may challenge the union over organizing its $7 billion Project CityCenter.

Culinary Secretary-Treasurer D. Taylor said the union's ability to organize through card checks has been challenged in the past, notably at the MGM Grand.

"I thought we'd gotten past that in this town," he said. "Our members view card-check neutrality very seriously."

Since the violent Culinary strike in 1984, Las Vegas has had, by and large, relatively smooth labor negotiations, which is good. It is important for the region and the economy that the sides work together and find a compromise.

For that matter, unlike the last negotiation, the economy is booming and there should be plenty of room to reach an equitable agreement for both sides.

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