Culinary Union and Unite Here call for boycott of Rampart Casino amid license controversy

The Culinary Union and Unite Here have launched a public boycott of Rampart Casino in Las Vegas and are urging customers to refrain from patronizing the property amidst concerns over its gaming license.

Recent revelations regarding the gaming license of Rampart Casino, attributed to Shirazalli Jafferali Lalji, who passed away in 2020, have prompted the unions to seek clarification from the Nevada Gaming Commission.

Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union, voiced concerns over the discrepancies surrounding the license, questioning why Lalji remained listed as an active licensee almost four years after his death. The unions have also raised questions about Lalji's status within the ownership structure of Rampart Casino, despite his passing.

Following public comments made to the Nevada Gaming Commission on March 21, the Culinary Union noted a change in Lalji's status from "beneficiary and director" to "removed" on a Nevada Gaming Control Board report. However, Lalji's name continues to be listed as "active" within the company.

Shirazalli Jafferali Lalji's brother, Aminmohamed Jafferali Lalji, serves as the President of Richmond Inn Investments Ltd, which owns the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel in Vancouver, Canada. The hotel has been embroiled in a labor dispute, leading to a public boycott declared by the British Columbia Federation of Labour.

In light of the labor dispute in Vancouver, the Culinary Union expressed solidarity with Unite Here Local 40 members engaged in the strike, emphasizing the importance of upholding industry standards.

“I’m on the picket line fighting for a living wage and to be able to have a family in my city” said Felisha Perry, a Banquet Server at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport for 6 years. “Everyday life is hard when you are struggling to keep up with rising costs for rent, gas, insurance, and groceries. Our ongoing strike is fundamentally about earning enough to live.”

Efforts by the Culinary Union to engage with Rampart Casino's management, including letters sent to Ferenc Szony and David Ross, have been met with silence, the Union said in a statement.

The boycott of Rampart Casino underscores the unions' commitment to safeguarding workers' rights and holding businesses accountable for maintaining ethical standards within the hospitality industry.