Virgin Hotels Las Vegas faces ongoing labor tensions as Culinary Local 226 members persist in their strike, now entering its fourth day with no forthcoming negotiations. The strike, which began last Friday, on November 15th, involves approximately 700 hospitality workers demanding significant wage increases under a new five-year contract.

Unresolved contract negotiations impacting hotel operations:

The lack of a tentative agreement has escalated to a walkout, placing pressure on the off-Strip hotel-casino to resolve the dispute swiftly, especially with the impending Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix. This major event, expected to draw massive crowds, highlights the urgency for a resolution.

Virgin Hotels, meanwhile, is implementing contingency plans to mitigate the strike’s impact. Over the weekend, the hotel disclosed that around 660 individuals had applied for temporary roles, primarily in guest services and environmental maintenance—positions left vacant by striking workers. The hotel asserts that these replacement workers are compensated at the same rates as those outlined in the union workers’ previous contract.

In response to the ongoing strike, Culinary has publicly urged patrons to boycott the property, cautioning against the use of “scab” workers. For their part, striking union members who picket five days a week are supported by a $500 weekly stipend from Culinary’s strike fund.

As Las Vegas Review-Journal reports, Culinary Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge expressed dissatisfaction with the hotel’s latest proposal, stating, “Virgin put a few more pennies on the table” during last Thursday’s bargaining session. He criticized the offer as substantially less than the wage and benefit increases secured at comparable properties along the resort corridor. Pappageorge highlighted that workers at other Strip locations have already received raises in the second year of their contracts.

Virgin’s position and statements:

Virgin Hotels contends that the union’s demands are not economically feasible given the company’s current financial standing. The hotel-casino has called on Culinary to allow its members to vote on the proposed contract, stressing its commitment to the well-being of all 1,710 team members. A statement from the hotel emphasized, “Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is committed to protecting the jobs of our 1,710 team members through ensuring the continued operation of our property. We believe in prioritizing the well-being of all our team members, a responsibility that the Union does not seem to share. The Union is willing to sacrifice off-Strip properties to maintain its bargaining leverage, at the expense of its own members.”

This strike marks Culinary’s first open-ended strike action since a 10-day strike at the Golden Gate Hotel Casino in 2002. It follows a two-day strike at Virgin in May and comes after a threatened strike before last year’s inaugural Formula One race, which culminated in a historic contract for union members at some of the largest employers on the Strip.

As the strike continues, two hotel casinos, Casa Calavera and The Kitchen at Commons Club, were reported closed on Monday. The ongoing dispute at Virgin Hotels highlights significant labor challenges in the hospitality sector, particularly as Las Vegas prepares for a high-profile racing event that promises to bring an influx of visitors and heightened demand for hotel services.