FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, September 7, 2022
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bethany Khan: bkhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088
STATEMENT by Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge regarding Reno Ward 5 appointment:
On Tuesday, August 30, 2022 the Culinary Union sent a letter to the Reno City Council regarding the Ward 5 vacancy.
The Culinary Union represents 60,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno. 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. 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 and winning for working families in Nevada for 87 years.
The Culinary Union writes today in support of Alex Goff, one of the finalists who has applied to be appointed for the vacant seat in Ward 5.
Alex is a Marine Corps Veteran who served in Iraq. He was appointed by Governor Steve Sisolak to the Nevada State Rehabilitation Council, where he serves as Vice-Chair. Additionally, Alex was appointed by the Reno City Council as Chair of the Reno Human Rights Commission. He is also a member of The Northern Nevada International Center, a non-profit that provides programs for international guests and refugee resettlement.
As a longstanding union member with the Communications Workers of America, Alex was a steward and member of the contract negotiating team. Alex has stood in solidarity with Culinary Union members outside of the Palms Casino in Las Vegas and in front of the Circus Circus Reno when workers protested for a fair contract.
Nevada has an urgent housing crisis that is pushing working families out of their homes. Along with rent increases, Reno residents have also seen home prices escalate. In March 2022, 39% of Nevadans had difficulty paying for housing-related expenses according to the federal government’s survey data.
Alex was recently quoted in August 25, 2022 article: "The council working together and working collaboratively would benefit from someone that's a veteran, someone who couldn't initially afford to live in this community. I think that's very important as we talk about housing affordability.” (News 4)
We agree. That’s why the Culinary Union urges the Reno City Council to appoint Alex Goff to represent the residents of Ward 5.
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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 and winning for working families in Nevada for 87 years.
CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226
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