FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 30, 2018
Media Contact:
Bethany Khan ▪ BKhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088
Statement by Geoconda Argüello-Kline, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union regarding
the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas:
The Culinary Union is pleased to announce that the current owner of the iconic Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, Brookfield Asset Management, and the property’s new owners, Virgin Hotels, the hotel brand by Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson, in partnership with a group led by Juniper Capital Partners and Fengate Real Asset Investments along with their partners Dream, Cowie Capital Partners, and other private investors, have all agreed to a fair process that will ensure management remains neutral as the Hard Rock workforce in the unions’ classifications choose whether to unionize without management interference, harassment, surveillance, bullying, or litigation.
This is a new era of positive labor-management cooperation at the Hard Rock Las Vegas. Card-check neutrality agreements provide a fair process that are the standard for the Culinary and Bartender Union’s 83-years of organizing over 800,000 workers. We congratulate the new owners of the Hard Rock Las Vegas and look forward to a partnership that continues raising the standard of living for workers and their families throughout this great city.
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ABOUT THE CULINARY UNION:
Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE, represent over 57,000 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 270,000 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 Union and Las Vegas-area employers. It provides health insurance coverage for over 143,000 Nevadans, the Culinary Union’s members and their dependents.
The Culinary Union is Nevada’s largest immigrant organization with over 57,000 members - a diverse membership that is approximately 55% women and 54% Latino. Members - who work as guest room attendants, bartenders, cocktail and food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks, and kitchen workers - come from 173 countries and speak over 40 different languages. The Culinary Union has been fighting for fair wages, job security, and good health benefits for working men and women in Nevada for over 82 years.
CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226