After walking off the job on Nov. 15, workers at the off-Strip Virgin Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas reached a deal with management. Culinary Local 226 and Bartenders Local 165 unanimously approved the five-year agreement this week.
“Virgin Hotels Las Vegas and the Culinary and Bartenders unions are pleased to be moving past their contract negotiations as each looks forward to fostering a positive and collaborative working relationship for the benefit of all team members at the property,” the union and property noted in a statement.
Contentious Labor Dispute
The previous contract expired in June 2023 and union representatives said they were seeking a new agreement that was in line with other off-Strip casinos. Virgin management had countered that some of the union’s financial demands, including a pay increase of more than 30%, weren’t financially viable for the property.
The exact details of the agreement aren’t currently known, but relations between the two sides have been contentious at times. In November, 57 union members were arrested for blocking a street in front of the hotel.
“Tonight, Culinary Union members, including (union secretary-treasurer) Ted Pappageorge were arrested at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas as workers are on strike for a fair contract,” the Culinary Union posted on Twitter at the time. “The fight for a contract now continues!”
This came after management kept the casino open during the strike and constructed temporary exterior walls to keep the striking workers off the property as well as to obstruct the view of the picket lines from casino visitors. Those on strike countered by playing loud music throughout the day, according to reports.
Pappageorge said the union held firm to reach a deal similar to other Las Vegas casino properties. Settling for anything less would set back future union negotiations, he said.
In November of 2023 as the city prepared for its first Formula One race, Las Vegas’ three biggest casino companies avoided a strike just days before the deadline. Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts, and Wynn Resorts all struck five-year deals with the unions, and a few months later the Trump Hotel and Westgate Casino did so as well. That left numerous independent casinos and hotels downtown, on the Strip, and just off-Strip such as Virgin.
Originally the Hard Rock Casino, the property was purchased and re-branded in 2021 as Virgin Hotel and Casino by billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson. The casino is operated by Mohegan Sun, which made it the first tribal casino in Las Vegas.
The San Manuel tribe then entered the market by purchasing the Palms Casino Resort, and the Seminole tribe is currently rebuilding on the site of the Mirage, which is set to open a new Hard Rock Casino Resort.