20,000 workers come to strike authorization vote in Las Vegas

For the first time in 18 years, over 20,000 Culinary Union members in Las Vegas voted in a citywide strike authorization meeting, with over 95% voting to strike on June 1, 2002 if acceptable agreements are not reached.

The strike vote, which was 18,654 to 877, authorizes the rank-and-file negotiating committee to call a strike when union contracts expire at midnight on May 31 unless new agreements are reached with 35 casinos.

"Given the huge turnout of members and the overwhelming vote to strike, I think it should be clear to everyone now that our members will do whatever it takes to protect their health insurance and support housekeepers in this contract fight," said D. Taylor, Secretary-Treasurer-elect of the Culinary Union.

These negotiations, which have been unusually contentious, are focused on two primary issues: maintenance of workers' health benefits and improvement in the treatment of housekeepers.

"Housekeepers, who are mostly immigrant women, have been suffering under constant increases in work demands and daily abuses, to the breaking point. That only got worse after 9/11, and our members are saying no more," said Geoconda Arguello-Kline, Culinary President-elect and former casino housekeeper.

The Union represents approximately 50,000 casino workers at all but a few casinos on the Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas, including those owned by Mandalay Resort Group, MGM Mirage, Park Place Entertainment, and Harrah's Entertainment.

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