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The organization said it has fought to get their employees back to work.

One of them is Adela Montes De Oca, a 12-year housekeeper at Aria.

After leading “union power” chants, Montes De Oca said in Spanish that the pandemic has been difficult on everyone, but that as a Culinary Union member, she feels blessed to be one of 60,000 who have been able to stay on the organization’s health care plan. 

“Now it’s time,” she said. “We’re ready to work. We want to say ‘Las Vegas is open, Las Vegas is prepared, we’re ready to give the best service that our guests deserve.’” 

Mario Sandoval, who’d been employed at Binion’s Gambling Hall for 36 years, hasn’t been back since he was furloughed last March. The company informed him of a new start date, which led him to quit a part-time job, but then they didn’t get back to him.

Union spokeswoman Bethany Khan said that Sandoval’s eventual reemployment is covered under Senate Bill 386, which partly states that it requires “an employer to offer certain job positions to a laid-off employee,” according to the legislation.

“I’ve seen Las Vegas go through many changes, but nothing like COVID-19,” Sandoval told the crowd. 

But “the union has had my back the whole way,” he said, noting the health insurance and the food it has provided during the pandemic. 

“We’re here today to tell you, Las Vegas and this country, that we are open and waiting for you,” Sandoval said. “We are ready to go back to work.”