About 95 percent of hospitality workers in Las Vegas have overwhelmingly voted to strike against casino hotels along the Strip.
It sets the stage for a potential walkout in the city as it gears up for major sporting events in the coming months.
The vote was led by Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, representing a combined 60,000 workforce across Nevada.
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It’s a strong signal of labor unrest in a city still grappling with economic challenges.
Despite this authorization vote, it doesn’t guarantee an immediate strike.
Negotiations for new contract deals with major resorts are ongoing.
The contracts for approximately 40,000 employees expired on September 15, after an extension from the original June deadline.
This workforce includes housekeepers, bartenders, cooks, and food servers at MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, and Wynn Resorts.
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Employers could terminate extended contracts for some workers at any time.
The unions, affiliated with UNITE HERE, have actively negotiated with the resorts since April.
Their demands include higher wages, improved safety protections, and stronger recall rights for workers during pandemics or economic crises.
Union officials say the city’s hospitality workforce is still about 20 percent smaller than before the pandemic.
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Ted Pappageorge, head of Local 226, said: “No one ever wants to go on strike.
“But working-class folks and families have been left behind, especially since the pandemic.”
MGM Resorts expressed optimism about reaching an agreement.
The company said: “We continue to have productive meetings with the union and believe both parties are committed to negotiating a contract that is good for everyone.”
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Wynn Resorts and Caesars Entertainment chose not to comment on the vote.
Negotiations would continue next week between the unions and the companies.
The labor dispute occurs as Nevada, heavily reliant on tourism, has hoped for a sports-related economic boost.
The upcoming Formula 1 event, the Las Vegas Grand Prix, and the Super Bowl, both expected to draw substantial tourist numbers, are major highlights in the state’s calendar.
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This strike authorization also aligns with ongoing labor struggles nationwide.
It includes the United Auto Workers’ strike against Detroit’s major automakers and ongoing negotiations between Hollywood studios and striking actors.
In Southern California, thousands of hotel workers with UNITE HERE Local 11 have engaged in recurring temporary strikes.
