The negotiations ended with record pay increases and stronger job protections, bringing Resorts World Las Vegas and The Cosmopolitan in line with other unionized Las Vegas Strip properties
Las Vegas hospitality workers just got a big win. The Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 have sealed new contracts with Resorts World Las Vegas and The Cosmopolitan. These three-year deals will cover almost 4,500 workers. Union leaders say these agreements are some of the most important in the union’s 90-year history.
Record Raises and Tech Protections Locked In for Thousands of Cosmopolitan Employees
The talks ended with what the union calls record-breaking pay hikes and better job protections. These deals put both resorts in line with other union shops on the Las Vegas Strip. All these contracts will end in September 2028.
The Cosmopolitan’s contract stands as the first under MGM Resorts International’s ownership. This agreement covers about 2,500 non-gaming employees. It includes provisions for daily room cleaning, lower workload quotas for housekeeping staff, and boosting health and safety measures at work.
Union officials stressed that the new contracts maintain hard-earned standards and safeguard against tech-related and job security issues. The agreement now guarantees training, continued healthcare, and privacy rights for workers affected by future automation or tracking systems. It also allows them to negotiate over technology-related changes.
Union Deals Cement Las Vegas as a Hub for Stable Hospitality Careers
Ted Pappageorge, the union’s secretary-treasurer, said the agreements confirm Las Vegas as a place where hospitality workers can earn a living wage and keep steady careers for years. He stressed that these wins came from ongoing grassroots organizing and group action, as unions now cover all Las Vegas Strip properties.
Workers at the affected properties felt good about the new terms. They pointed to higher pay, better conditions, and tougher safety rules as big wins. Room cleaners, laundry workers, and bellhops said the new contracts will give them more money and help them feel more secure and happy in their jobs, reported the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
At the same time, Harry Reid International Airport saw a separate five-year deal struck covering more than 1,100 food and drink staff. Talks are ongoing for another 400 employees who work at fast-food spots in the airport. While these deals wait for approval votes, the Culinary Union keeps pushing for similar safeguards for workers at other non-union venues.
The recent wins are part of a bigger effort to keep high job standards in Nevada’s hotel and tourism industry, strengthening the Culinary Union‘s position as a key player for workers’ rights in the state.
