Culinary Union Members Stay United!

On August 24th, MGM Mirage workers settled a great new contract! On that same day, workers across the city pledged to stick together until ALL Culinary members have a new contract!

After 5 months of negotiations, the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and the Bartenders Union Local 165 reached an agreement for a new contract with MGM Mirage. The new contract was overwhelmingly ratified by members on Friday August 24th.

This new contract for over 21,000 workers at ten MGM Mirage properties includes the biggest economic package in the history of the Union and includes many first-time agreements on new contract language. Highlights of the new contract include:

• Five-year term (6/1/07 – 5/31/12)

• Largest wage plus benefit increase in the history of the Culinary & Bartenders Unions

• Maintain free family health insurance (no worker premiums)

• Maintain pension so workers can retire with dignity

• Salary continuation for workers if property closes during contract

• Largest increases in guaranteed gratuities for tipped workers in the history of the Culinary & Bartenders Unions

• Creation of an IRS Legal Defense Fund

• Creation of a Housing Trust Fund

• First-time-ever rights for workers who get called up to military duty

• First-time-ever established contractual career ladder so workers have a pathway to move up

• Union rights and language for 3rd-party operators, condominiums, hotels, and condo-hotels

Settling such a great contract is a huge victory for Culinary members at MGM Mirage properties. But our fight is not over! Culinary members have pledged to stand together until all workers have a great, new contract.

Culinary members are standing together – whether they work at Harrah’s properties, MGM Mirage properties, Downtown, on the Strip, in Reno and in the laundries! Culinary members are united and ready to fight for a new contract for ALL workers!

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