FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, June 8, 2021
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bethany Khan: bkhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088
STATEMENT by Geoconda Argüello-Kline regarding Governor Sisolak signing SB386 Right to Return into law:
The Culinary Union applauds Governor Steve Sisolak for his leadership and for signing Senate Bill 386 “Right to Return” into law today, and commends Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, Speaker Jason Frierson, and Democrats in the Nevada Legislature on the passage of the legislation which will protect over 350,000 hospitality workers in Clark County and Washoe.
Since the pandemic began in March 2020, the Culinary Union has been fighting everyday to protect hospitality workers and their families during this crisis. At the height of the pandemic 98% of Culinary Union members were laid off and currently only 50% are back to work.
No organization in Nevada that has done what the Culinary Union has accomplished in order to protect workers over the past 14 months, from providing daily food assistance, to fiercely advocating to have workers brought back to work, and preserving worker’s health care benefits, we are proud to have supported workers every step of the way during this crisis.
While a majority of unionized hospitality workers already have extended recall protections in their contracts, most hospitality workers protected by the new SB386 Right to Return law are not unionized and work in casinos owned and operated by Station Casinos and other gaming companies.
Behind every worker in this state there is a family and the Culinary Union is proud to have won the Right to Return for over 350,000 hospitality workers in Nevada. The Culinary Union is deeply disappointed that Republicans shamefully refused to stand with their constituents who are front-line essential hospitality workers and voted against Right to Return at every opportunity.
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ABOUT CULINARY UNION:
Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE, represent 60,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including at most of the casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas. UNITE HERE represents 300,000 workers in gaming, hotel, and food service industries in North America.
The Culinary Union, through the Culinary Health Fund, is one of the largest healthcare consumers in the state. The Culinary Health Fund is sponsored by the Culinary Union and Las Vegas-area employers. It provides health insurance coverage for over 145,000 Nevadans, the Culinary Union’s members and their dependents.
The Culinary Union is Nevada’s largest Latinx/Black/AAPI/immigrant organization with members who come from 178 countries and speak over 40 different languages. We are proud to have helped over 18,000 immigrants become American citizens and new voters since 2001 through our affiliate, The Citizenship Project.
The Culinary Union has a diverse membership which is 55% women and 45% immigrants. The demographics of Culinary Union members are approximately: 54% Latinx, 18% white, 15% Asian, 12% Black, and less than 1% Indigenous Peoples.
Culinary Union members work as: Guest room attendants, cocktail and food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks, bartenders, laundry and kitchen workers. The Culinary Union has been fighting for working families in Nevada for 86 years.
CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226
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