Culinary Union concludes 48-hour strike at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, talks to resume Tuesday

Culinary Union Local 226, Nevada's largest labor union, ended a 48-hour strike on Sunday aimed at urging Virgin Hotels Las Vegas to agree to a new five-year contract on wages and benefits.

Over 700 workers walked off the job at the 1,500-room hotel-casino near the Las Vegas Strip on Friday morning, with the strike concluding Sunday morning. Contract discussions are scheduled to resume on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported.

Various staff, including guest room attendants, cocktail and food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks, bartenders, and laundry and kitchen workers, participated in the strike in front of Virgin Hotels, formerly the Hard Rock Las Vegas.

Ted Pappageorge, the union's secretary-treasurer, stated that the workers aimed to expedite a new agreement through the 48-hour strike. The union's previous contract with Virgin Hotels expired 11 months ago.

Earlier this year, union members at other Las Vegas-area properties secured deals at several Las Vegas properties entailing approximately a 32% salary increase over five years, including a 10% raise in the first year.

Virgin Hotels filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board last week ahead of the anticipated strike, alleging that the union failed to negotiate in good faith. Pappageorge contested this assertion.

In the previous year, the union authorized a citywide strike ahead of Las Vegas hosting the Super Bowl, eventually reaching agreements with major hotel casinos on the Strip for approximately 40,000 workers and with most downtown and off-Strip properties for 10,000 workers.

Approximately 50 union picketers, including Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar, vocally advocated against crossing the picket line on Saturday afternoon. Representative Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, also joined the picket line on Friday, Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

Meanwhile, operations continued as usual within the property. Temporary workers filled in some positions, and management indicated that other departments within the 1,700-person organization, such as accounting and human resources, were covering the shifts of the strikers. Notably, TV personalities Kendall and Kylie Jenner made an appearance at Kassi Beach Club on Friday, as per the club's social media.

While some guests reported minimal disruptions or were unaware of the extent of the strike, others adjusted their plans accordingly, the report said.

Property management cited recent renovations and ownership changes as factors complicating meeting the union's proposed wage and salary increases. However, Pappageorge reiterated the union's commitment to ensuring its members remain on par with the rest of the market.