Nevada Culinary Union To Picket At Station Casinos Las Vegas HQ

In a fight for better labor practices, a Las Vegas culinary union announced plans to picket at Station Casinos‘ headquarters.

Members of The Culinary Union put forth a list of proposals as it continues to fight for a first-time union contract. The union and Station Casinos workers will begin picketing outside the Las Vegas casino headquarters on Jan. 19.

First-time union contract for Las Vegas casino workers

The Culinary Union consists of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226, Bartenders Union Local 165, and affiliates of UNITE HERE.

In a press release, Local 266 said negotiations with the casino operator are active and ongoing. However, Station Casino has yet to agree to any union proposals.

That includes making sure workers laid off during COVID-19 closures have hiring priority. Other proposals include:

• Implement enhanced benefits to union and non-union workers alike – Station Casinos has currently promised enhanced benefits to only non-union employees. (The company has not agreed.)
• Priority hiring and severance benefits for workers if any more Station Casinos properties are to be closed or sold. (The company has not agreed.)
• Include Culinary Academy of Las Vegas training opportunities for Station Casinos workers so they can move up in their careers. (The company has not agreed.)
• Protect Station Casinos workers with the standard union job security package covering 60,000 Culinary Union hospitality workers in Nevada. (The company has not agreed.)
• Agree on a first-time union contract that includes all of the above and many more protections for Station Casinos workers. (The company has not agreed.)

Year-long battle involves nine Station Casinos properties

In March 2022, the Culinary Union urged the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) to step in, saying gaming regulators must hold casino operators accountable for malpractice. 

At the time, Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for the Culinary Union, said:

“Gaming regulators have a duty to make sure license holders, like Station Casinos, are always operating in a way befitting Nevada’s gold standard of gaming industry regulation.”

Pappageorge continued: “The Culinary Union is confident the state’s gaming regulators will want to take action against Station Casinos after they have reviewed the ample documentation and evidence of the company and its affiliates’ disregard of federal law, including the current allegations before the National Labor Relations Board.”

Culinary claims workers at nine Station Casinos properties in Las Vegas are fighting for a union contract. Those properties include:

1. Boulder Station
2. Palace Station
3. Green Valley Ranch
4. Sunset Station
5. Fiesta Rancho
6. Fiesta Henderson
7. Red Rock Resort
8. Texas Station
9. Santa Fe