Las Vegas Culinary Union reaches landmark labor deals with Resorts World, The Cosmopolitan

Nevada’s largest hospitality union has reached tentative three-year labor agreements with Resorts World Las Vegas and The Cosmopolitan, covering around 4,500 workers and marking a new milestone in the union’s 90-year history.

The new contracts, negotiated by the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, include what the unions describe as the largest wage increases ever secured for Las Vegas hospitality workers. The deals also bring the Las Vegas Strip to 100% unionization, a first for the city’s gaming corridor.

“We are proud to have won a terrific new union contract for workers at Resorts World Las Vegas,” said Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer of the Culinary Union. “This first-class union contract sets the foundation for a successful future for the property, the company, and the workers.”

“Nothing in our nine decades came easily. Victories are the result of militant worker organizing, sacrifice, and determination,” he added.

The three-year agreements are set to expire on September 30, 2028, aligning with contracts reached across other unionized Strip properties during the 2023 citywide bargaining campaign.

The contracts provide sweeping protections for hospitality staff, including mandated daily room cleaning, reduced housekeeping quotas, and expanded safety measures such as the broader use of panic buttons and penalties for nonfunctional devices. Employers will also be required to perform mandatory room checks and track guest incidents involving harassment or criminal behavior.

The agreements also include provisions aimed at mitigating the impact of automation and surveillance technologies in the workplace. Employers must give advance notice before introducing job-displacing technology and negotiate terms that include worker retraining, severance, and privacy protections.

“We won our BEST contract EVER. Yes, it was a lot of work, late nights, and we were tired, but it was worth it because this new contract will change lives,” said Lucila Zamora, a guest room attendant at Resorts World and a Culinary Union member for 13 years.

Other key benefits include continued access to health care via the Culinary Health Fund, union pensions, and extended job recall rights for up to three years in the event of a future crisis.

“This is a groundbreaking contract,” said Tania Morales, a casino porter at Resorts World. “We’ll continue to have job security and peace of mind.”

The deal at The Cosmopolitan represents the first contract negotiated there since the property's acquisition by MGM Resorts International. Workers at both properties are expected to vote on ratification soon.

The Culinary Union, an affiliate of UNITE HERE, represents nearly 60,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno across sectors including casinos, hotels, and food services.