Secretary-Treasurer of the Culinary Workers United Local 226, Ted Pappageorge, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the ongoing negotiations and strike vote for workers on the Las Vegas Strip. Pappageorge also talked about their contract demands and what the strike vote means for negotiations.
The organizations that employ workers on the Strip in Las Vegas were forced to cut back the workforce during the pandemic. Unfortunately, the employers have maintained that same staff size while reporting record profits. The employers have said they will not increase the wages for the nearly 40,000 members at 22 different properties, Pappageorge said. In response, the union has approved a strike vote, with 96 percent of the members voting to support a strike if needed.
The Union is fighting for five main demands they want in their new contract with healthcare, improved wages and retirement benefits as the top priorities. Safety issues also have arisen that are causing new problems for workers following the pandemic, and employers haven’t implemented any improvement in worker protections. New technological developments are involved in everyday work by the members, and the union is seeking training and advance notice when new technology will become part of the day-to-day work. There has not been sufficient movement on these demands, which is why the Culinary Workers have voted to support a strike.
The purpose of the strike vote is to allow the lead negotiator, Pappageorge, in this case, to call for a strike if there are no movements in negotiations. While the strike isn’t what the members want, they are ready to do what it takes to get their contract demands. Pappageorge believes that the current momentum in the labor movement is on their side, whether they have to strike or not. With the unity of the labor movement, he believes that they will win massive improvements on their new contract.
To hear more from Pappageorge, press play above.