Nevada: Sunset Station employees vote to decertify Culinary Union, casino withdraws recognition

Employees at Sunset Station in Henderson, represented by Culinary Local 226, have chosen to end their affiliation with the union, Station Casinos said in a statement. According to the casino operator, a majority of Culinary employees at the property signed a petition to decertify the union.

“In accordance with our Team Members’ request, Station Casinos has withdrawn its recognition of the Union as an authorized bargaining representative of Sunset Station Team Members. This decertification petition follows decertification petitions signed by a majority of the represented Team Members at Boulder Station and Palace Station,” the statement said.

Similar decertification endeavors took place at Boulder and Palace Stations in 2020, with the company refusing to acknowledge the union as representatives of those workers. The union has filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), asserting that these actions were in violation of labor laws.

Approximately 80 percent of Sunset Station workers had previously voted to join the union in June 2019.



Scott Kreeger, president of Station’s parent company Red Rock Resorts, expressed gratitude for the support from workers.

“We look forward to having the same great direct relationships with this group of Team Members as we have with our Boulder Station, Palace Station, Santa Fe Station and Durango Team Members. There is a reason our Team Members vote for us again and again as the best casino company to work for in Las Vegas and this result from Sunset Station Team Members underscores how special our relationship is with our Team Members,” Kreeger said.

Culinary and Station Casinos have historically maintained a contentious relationship. Despite successful unionization efforts at some Station properties, a contract has not been signed at any properties. In a 2021 court ruling, the company was directed to engage in good-faith bargaining with union employees at Red Rock Resort.

Culinary Union leaders have accused Station Casinos of labor law violations and failure to recognize the union. Conversely, company executives assert that union members have engaged in harassment and intimidation of non-member employees.

In a statement Monday, Culinary Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge said Station Casinos has a “shameful history of anti-worker behavior, and losing” and alleged that company management had encouraged union decertification. He said the withdrawal of recognition at Sunset Station is unlawful.

“The Culinary Union will file an unfair labor practice charge regarding the withdrawal and will continue to demand that the company negotiate in good faith towards a union contract. Union busting is disgusting, and the Culinary Union urges Station Casinos to do better,” Pappageorge said.

The NLRB website outlines the conditions under which union decertification can occur, typically involving an election. "At least 30% of your coworkers must sign cards or a petition asking the NLRB to conduct an election," the board's website states. "Unless a majority of the votes cast in the election are in favor of union representation, the union will be decertified."

It's unclear if the NLRB has received the petition or if a decertification election is planned.