Labor union reaches tentative deals with two Las Vegas Strip hotels

Culinary Workers Union Local 226 has reached tentative contract agreements with two Las Vegas Strip hotel properties – Vdara and The Signature.

The agreements, made with Vdara, a 1,395-room hotel adjacent to Aria hotel-casino, and The Signature, which has 730 rooms neighboring MGM Grand, will cover more than 1,000 workers, according to the union.

Culinary members must still ratify the agreements, although similar contracts have received overwhelming support at other resorts. Last fall, workers at most MGM Resorts International properties on the Strip ratified a five-year contract covering about 25,000 members.

The union began negotiating the new contract cycle last spring, prior to the expiration of most contracts in June. To expedite discussions, they threatened a strike on properties owned by MGM, Caesars Entertainment, and Wynn Resorts before the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix in November.

The union termed the agreements as "historic" for their workers. Key contract provisions include a 10 percent wage increase in the first year, retroactive to June 1, with a 32 percent total increase over the life of the contract. 

The average worker's wage, including benefits, is expected to rise from about $26 an hour to $35 an hour by the end of the five years. Additionally, the contract includes language guaranteeing lower workloads, technology protections, and career support for workers.

Besides, Culinary Local 226 is negotiating a contract agreement for roughly 700 workers at Virgin Las Vegas, an off-Strip hotel-casino.