FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2015
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bethany Khan: bkhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ @Bethany Khan ▪ (702) 387-7088
Unions Reach Tentative Agreement with the MGM Grand Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS, NV – The Culinary and Bartenders Unions’ negotiating committee reached a tentative agreement with the MGM Grand Las Vegas for a new four-year contract.
The contract covers approximately 4,000 workers who work as porters, bellmen, guest room attendants, cocktail servers, bartenders, food servers, cooks, and other hospitality positions at the Las Vegas resort hotel/casino.
The economic package mirrors the contracts between the Unions and MGM Resorts International’s other Las Vegas Strip properties. Workers will keep their high-quality health insurance and pension. Important changes were negotiated for food and beverage operations to allow for with the goal of reopening restaurants and bringing laid-off workers back to work. New standards in housekeeping will also improve working conditions for guest room attendants.
“We are pleased to have a tentative agreement with the MGM Grand,” said Geoconda Arguello-Kline, Secretary-Treasurer of the Culinary Union. “This contract reflects what can happen when labor and management come together to make sure workers can do the best job serving the millions of people who visit Las Vegas every year.”
“Having a strong Union contract means that I have the opportunity to provide for my family,” said Margarita Duran, a housekeeper at the MGM Grand and Union shop steward. “This was my first time participating in negotiations and it was a great experience to sit down at the table with the company, as an equal, and discuss how to make our jobs good jobs.”
Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE, represent over 55,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including at most of casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. UNITE HERE represents 270,000 workers in gaming, hotel, and food service industries in North America.
www.CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226
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