Las Vegas union begins strike at Virgin Hotels after failed negotiations

For the second time this year, Culinary Union workers are on strike at Virgin Hotels.

The strike began Friday at 5 a.m. after the latest round of negotiations failed, leaving the union and off-strip property “disappointed.”

The last time the Culinary Union held a strike outside the hotel, the action had a hard limit of only two days.

The union says Friday’s action is the first open-ended strike in the last 22 years, which means it can last until a deal is reached or it is called off. The most recent open-ended strike happened at the Golden Gate in 2002.

“In negotiations, the company’s proposal works out to an estimated $0.47 per year to wages over five years after deducting money for benefits,” Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge said in a statement. “...Compared to non-tipped workers at The Strat, who received over $4.00 an hour in wage increases this year alone! The Virgin Las Vegas’ proposal is miles apart and is an insult to every worker - which is why the committee voted unanimously to refuse to settle for a second-class contract.”

700 workers were a part of the strike action, according to the union. Some workers who talked with FOX5 said they’re frustrated seeing employees at other properties get the contract they want.

“I don’t know how we’re different,” Deanna Vann, a server at The Kitchen at Commons Club, said on the picket line. ”I get that we’re not like other casinos on the Strip, but same thing with Rio and Westgate — a lot of ones that aren’t on the Strip are union, and they signed a contract, a great one, compared to what they’re trying to offer us.”

The union continues to urge valley visitors and residents alike to not cross the picket line, cancel any reservations, and stay at a union-accommodating property instead.

One hotel guest visiting from Canada told FOX5 the strike is already affecting his stay.

“This morning, we went to order breakfast — room service — and they said it was unavailable. They’re not open today,” Lance Richards, in town from Saskatchewan, recalled. “I thought that was strange because part of the advertisement was having 24-hour room service. So we went to get breakfast outside the hotel, and we saw all these picketers and found out why we can’t get room service.”

FOX5 reached out to Virgin Hotels for a statement following the start of the strike. A spokesperson directed us to their most recent statement, emphasizing their disappointment with the collapse of the latest discussions.

“When we concluded our most recent meeting on July 11, the ball was in the Union’s court. We did not hear from the Union until November 8 – after it had already set a strike deadline of November 15,” the property stated. “After we waited several months for the Union to respond to our June proposal and return to the table, their unconstructive approach and bad faith bargaining today was another disappointment.”