Hundreds of Culinary Union workers initiated a strike at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on Friday at 5 a.m. PT, marking the first open-ended strike by the union in over 22 years. The strike comes just days before the highly anticipated Formula 1 Las Vegas race scheduled for November 21-23.

Approximately 700 workers, including guest room attendants, servers, porters, bellmen, cooks, and bartenders, have been working without a contract since June 2023. The union is demanding:

• A five-year agreement
• Fair wage increases
• Reduced workload
• Safety improvements
• Protection from technology implementation
• Enhanced job security

The union seeks similar terms to other Las Vegas properties, which received a 10% wage increase in the first year and a total 32% increase over five years. Union secretary-treasurer Ted Pappageorge stated that Virgin Las Vegas' current proposal is "miles apart" and "an insult" to workers.

Previous union actions at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas included:

• A two-day strike in May 2023
• August 2023 protests resulting in 23 arrests during nonviolent civil disobedience

Management Response: JC Hospitality, LLC, owner of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, claims the union isn't engaging in "meaningful bargaining." The company has proposed advancing wage increases originally planned for years four and five to address the concern about zero increases in the first three years. Management filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board against the union.

The union has advised customers to avoid the property, cancel reservations, and seek accommodation and dining elsewhere during the strike period.

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