History

CULINARY UNION 226 HISTORY

Culinary Workers Union Local 226 is one of the fastest growing private sector local unions in the United States. Membership has climbed from 18,000 union workers in 1987 to approximately 60,000 members today. Culinary 226 represents more members than any other union in Nevada.

Chartered in 1938, Culinary Union 226 has been a leader in the fight for decent wages, better working conditions, family health insurance and secure pensions. Culinary 226 represents workers in the hospitality industry, including hotels, casinos, airports, food service, restaurants and laundry services.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Las Vegas workers experienced firsthand the rapid change in the workplace as corporations began to enter the casino industry, which previously had been dominated by family-owned companies.

In 1984, the Casinos’ refusal to negotiate improved health insurance coverage led to a citywide strike of 18,000 union workers. While the Union prevailed in the strike and won better health coverage (the Culinary Health plan that union members have today) it was a wake-up call for members of Local 226.

The years following the 1984 strike were a time of rebuilding for the Union. Culinary 226 fought to improve existing contracts and organize new casinos as they opened. During the 1990s, the Union kept pace with a booming Las Vegas. Since the opening of Mirage in 1989 (the first of Las Vegas’ “mega-resorts”) Culinary 226 has organized more than 40,000 new workers.

The 1990s were also a time of tough strikes as workers at the Horsehoe and Frontier Casinos successfully struck to protect the Union standard of living.
The Frontier Strike was one of the longest in U.S. history––lasting over six years. All the 550 strikers victoriously returned to work in 1998 with seniority on the job and back pension service credits.

Today, Culinary 226 members continue to fight for all that they have achieved
––free health care, a secure retirement, owning a home and sending their kids college. The Union remains strong with a growing membership and thousands of active union members.

ABOUT UNITE HERE

Culinary Workers Union Local 226, along with the Bartenders Union Local 165, are the Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE.  Culinary Union Local 226 is the largest affiliate of UNITE HERE.

UNITE HERE represents more than 450,000 active union members and more than 400,000 retirees across the United States and Canada. UNITE HERE’s diverse membership includes immigrants, African-Americans, Latinos and Asian-American workers. The majority of UNITE HERE members are women.

UNITE and HERE merged on July 8, 2004 to form UNITE HERE. UNITE was the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees. HERE was the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union, originally formed in 1891.

UNITE and HERE worked together to organize the Immigrant Workers Freedom ride in 2003. This was an historic nationwide event that mobilized tens of thousands of immigrant workers and their allies to educate Americans about the contributions and struggles of immigrant workers.