In an escalation of ongoing labor tensions, hundreds of hospitality workers at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas went on strike just before dawn Friday after negotiations with Culinary Workers Union Local 226 failed to produce a new contract. The strike marks the second this year at the off-Strip property and comes just days before the city hosts the high-profile Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Virgin Hotels management and union representatives have been locked in a protracted negotiation for months. Last week, Culinary set a 5 a.m. Friday strike deadline to press Virgin management to get a deal done. However, on Thursday night, talks broke down once more, with the union rejecting Virgin’s latest offer.
The central sticking point in the negotiations for union representatives is Virgin’s initial proposal including no wage increases for the first three years of the contract. In a statement, hotel management said they adjusted their offer in an attempt to meet union demands.
“Today, in an attempt to address the Union’s concerns, we proposed bringing forward a portion of the wage increase that was previously proposed for years four and five so that there are no longer zero increases in the first three years,” the statement read.
However, Virgin accused the union of maintaining a rigid, “take it or leave it” bargaining stance, calling the union’s position “not economically viable for our off-Strip property and that would negatively impact all hotel team members.”
Culinary leaders dismissed the offer as inadequate, describing it in a social media post as “miles apart” from workers’ expectations. “Company’s offer was an insult to workers who voted unanimously to refuse to settle for a second-class contract,” the union said.
Approximately 700 union members working in non-gaming roles at Virgin Hotels walked off the job, urging customers and community members to respect their picket line.
This strike comes at a critical time for Las Vegas, with the Formula One Grand Prix scheduled to kick off race events on Nov. 21. The timing has amplified the potential impact of the strike on staffing and operations at the hotel, located east of the Strip at Harmon Avenue and Paradise Road.
This is not the first work stoppage at Virgin Hotels in 2024. In May, union members staged a two-day strike at the property, citing the same unresolved contract issues.
Virgin Hotels is the last major Las Vegas property under Culinary’s jurisdiction to finalize a labor agreement. While other hotels across the Strip, downtown, and off-Strip areas reached multi-year contracts with the union in 2023 and early 2024, Virgin’s financial constraints have complicated negotiations. The property, formerly the Hard Rock Hotel, underwent a rebranding and management change in March 2021.
In 2023, Culinary used the looming Formula One event as leverage to secure a landmark contract at properties owned by MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, and Wynn Resorts. That deal included a 32% increase in wages and benefits, as well as gains in workload and other labor conditions.
Virgin, however, has pushed back against the union’s tactics. The hotel filed complaints with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing Culinary of engaging in unlawful “take it or leave it” bargaining. Union leaders, meanwhile, have held firm, asserting that any proposal with no wage increases in the first three years is a non-starter.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/noticias/2024/11/15/85408-hospitality-workers-at-virgin-hotels-las-vegas-strike-again-due-to-contract-dispute
