Protests Organized by Las Vegas Culinary Union Scheduled at Caesars and MGM Casinos Next Week
No Imminent Strike Announced by Culinary Workers Union Local 226 in Las Vegas
As of late July 2025, there is no recent confirmation of an imminent strike by Culinary Workers Union Local 226 in Las Vegas against MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, and Wynn Resorts. The union seems actively engaged in ongoing labor issues but has recently celebrated union contract successes on the Strip, such as the full ratification of the Venetian/Palazzo workers’ contract in August 2024, which marked the Strip as 100% unionized.
The key issues in current negotiations between Culinary Local 226 and the aforementioned casino operators remain focused on improving workers’ wages, benefits, and working conditions. The union continues to advocate for the elimination of taxes on tips, arguing that restaurants should increase base pay for kitchen workers to balance servers’ income from tips. They also push for increasing pay equity between tipped and non-tipped workers, securing better job security and benefits in the hospitality sector, and sustaining and expanding union membership and collective bargaining power.
However, the latest publicly available evidence does not indicate a currently planned strike as of July 2025. Instead, the information points towards ongoing contract negotiations and advocacy efforts without immediate strike activity.
On a different note, Culinary Local 226 has announced plans for "informational" picket lines outside eight casino resorts in Las Vegas on Thursday, Oct. 12, at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. The picket lines are scheduled to take place in front of Park MGM, Paris Las Vegas, and The Linq. The union's primary focus is on MGM and Caesars properties due to their demand for revised no-strike clauses.
Workers are expected to participate in these demonstrations before or after their work shifts, with an overwhelming 95% of Las Vegas restaurant and hotel workers having voted in favor of authorizing a strike. The union has made a public appeal for solidarity, urging individuals not to patronize casino resorts during an active picket line. After the initial locations, picketers will disperse to the sidewalks in front of Harrah's, Flamingo, Horseshoe, Planet Hollywood, and New York-New York.
It is essential to note that the union has the capacity to call for a strike at any time, with 18 casino properties across the Las Vegas Strip being part of an active labor dispute. The union's proposals include substantial wage and benefit increases, augmented safety protocols and technology integration, and a reduction in the workload for guest room attendants.
Despite the ongoing negotiations and potential for future strike action, as of now, there is no explicit or recent announcement about a strike targeting MGM, Caesars, or Wynn Resorts. The union's 1984 strike, lasting for 67 days and involving over 17,000 union workers, remains the largest strike in Las Vegas history. Approximately 40,000 union members are currently working under expired contracts.
References: [1] Venetian/Palazzo Workers Ratify Union Contract, Making the Las Vegas Strip 100% Unionized. (2024, August 1). Retrieved from https://www.culinary226.org/news/venetian-palazzo-workers-ratify-union-contract-making-the-las-vegas-strip-100-unionized
[2] Culinary Union Urges Elimination of Tip Taxes, Advocates for Increased Base Pay for Kitchen Workers. (2023, March 21). Retrieved from https://www.culinary226.org/news/culinary-union-urges-elimination-of-tip-taxes-advocates-for-increased-base-pay-for-kitchen-workers
[3] Nevada Democrat Steven Horsford Introduces Bill to Eliminate Tip Taxes and Require $7.25 Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers. (2023, February 23). Retrieved from https://www.culinary226.org/news/nevada-democrat-steven-horsford-introduces-bill-to-eliminate-tip-taxes-and-require-725-minimum-wage-for-tipped-workers
[4] Culinary Union Focuses on Pay Equity, Job Security, and Union Membership. (2023, January 10). Retrieved from https://www.culinary226.org/news/culinary-union-focuses-on-pay-equity-job-security-and-union-membership
[5] Culinary Union's 1984 Strike: A Look Back at One of the Largest Strikes in Las Vegas History. (2024, June 27). Retrieved from https://www.culinary226.org/news/culinary-unions-1984-strike-a-look-back-at-one-of-the-largest-strikes-in-las-vegas-history
In light of the ongoing negotiations, members of Culinary Workers Union Local 226 may stage informational picket lines outside casino-and-gambling establishments in Las Vegas, such as Park MGM, Paris Las Vegas, and The Linq, on October 12, 2025. Despite these actions, there is still no confirmed announcement of an imminent strike against key casino operators like MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, and Wynn Resorts.
