Over 6,000 casino workers in Las Vegas have been fighting to win a better future for themselves and their families for almost a decade. These workers are cooks, kitchen workers, food servers, bartenders, cocktail servers, housekeepers, and other service workers who make their company, Station Casinos, successful.
Last year the company generated $1.5 billion in revenue in Las Vegas alone. Station Casinos workers, however, make less than workers doing the same jobs at unionized casinos on the Las Vegas Strip and do not get the same affordable family healthcare and retirement benefits like at those union casinos. In the absence of a union contract, they also do not have any job security, fair scheduling, fair seniority rules, or a fair grievance process.
These workers are rising up and organizing because they want to be treated fairly and paid fairly. They do not want to be second-class workers in their own city anymore. Their fight for economic justice is a crucial struggle for these times, as this group of largely immigrant workers are rising up against two billionaire owners, Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, who are major supporters of the Trump agenda.
Workers at 7 Station Casinos’ Las Vegas properties have voted to unionize and they are fighting for a contract: Boulder Station (September 2016), Palace Station (March 2017), Green Valley Ranch (November 2017), Palms (April 2018), Sunset Station (June 2019), Fiesta Rancho (June 2019), and Fiesta Henderson (September 2019).
In early 2019, Democratic candidates for President began to take notice and they have supported Station Casinos workers on social media, often uplifting the workers’ fight to local and international media attention.
Current (and former) Democratic candidates for president support Station Casinos workers:
(note: Culinary Union has not yet endorsed any candidate for the 2020 election cycle)
I stand in solidarity with workers raising their voices for fair wages, job security, and better health benefits. I applaud them for organizing to demand what they deserve.https://t.co/rdME1MxABY
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) March 19, 2019
I stand with the @Palms workers who are fighting for strong wages, comprehensive benefits, and dignity on the job. It's time for management to come to the negotiating table. https://t.co/bFcMYTjAQW
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) March 26, 2019
Our country is stronger when our workers can easily organize and join unions. I stand behind @Culinary226 and all workers fighting for fair wages and benefits. https://t.co/GWcXcep4Xz
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) March 28, 2019
Workers deserve fair wages and benefits -- not more empty promises and refusals to negotiate and respect their votes. I stand in solidarity with @Culinary226 and workers nationwide in the fight for what they’re owed. #ChangeCantWait https://t.co/1DoFWzF7sy
— Wayne Messam (@WayneMessam) April 5, 2019
The @Palms needs to come to the table to negotiate. Its workers are fighting for better benefits, better compensation, job security and dignity in the workplace. I stand with @Culinary226 and support their right to organize.
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) May 9, 2019
.@Culinary226 workers have voted to unionize in six @stationcasinos locations, but have been repeatedly stalled by management. It’s time for them to respect their employees—join me in calling Station’s corporate offices: 702-495-3550. pic.twitter.com/HZhOX4FDyr
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) July 7, 2019
We must protect every worker’s right to form or join a union. It’s long overdue that @stationcasinos fairly negotiate with the six locations that voted to unionize. I stand with @Culinary226 in their efforts to support working people across NV. Management must come to the table.
— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) July 31, 2019
.@Palms workers voted to unionize because they are fighting for better pay, better benefits, job security, and respect and dignity on the job.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) August 6, 2019
It's time for the Palms' billionaire, Trump-supporting owners to stop ignoring the law and start negotiating with their workers. https://t.co/nycj605Yzc
I stand with @Culinary226 in its fight to unionize, and I back its members in demanding that @StationCasinos negotiates with them. This is a make or break moment for our country — we can't wait to make sure workers get fair pay, fair benefits, and basic respect.
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) August 8, 2019
Proud to stand with @Culinary226 and @APALAnational as they fight for Palms Casino Resort workers' right to a fair union contract. They should never have to fight for that basic right alone.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 9, 2019
Team Moulton is out supporting the Culinary Union this morning! Unions are critical to protecting the American dream, and I’m proud to stand with them. pic.twitter.com/vGYeTuNZYf
— Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) August 10, 2019
.@ewarren stands with @Culinary226 and Stations Casino workers who voted to unionize. Management must respect workers and come to the table to negotiate. Keep the pressure on. We're in this fight with you. ✊🏻✊🏽✊🏿 pic.twitter.com/lwJ1bruAFd
— Nevada for Warren (@NVforWarren) August 16, 2019
Building a more inclusive middle class is at the heart of this presidential campaign. That's why I support @Culinary226 and the Station Casino workers who voted to unionize. The will of the workers must be respected and management has to come to the negotiating table immediately.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 22, 2019
Every worker deserves #15andaUnion.
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) September 14, 2019
Congratulations to the workers at @stationcasinos for unionizing and joining the 60,000+ members of @Culinary226! #1U https://t.co/wMRu1ekQeK
I stand shoulder to shoulder with workers at Fiesta Henderson Hotel & Casino in their fight to unionize! I'm calling on Station Casinos to recognize @culinary226 vote and negotiate immediately for a fair contract.https://t.co/AARZwUWVJA
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) September 14, 2019
Congratulations to Fiesta Henderson Casino workers for voting to unionize and be represented by @Culinary226 and Bartenders Union Local 165. Time for @StationCasinos to join them at the table and deliver on fair wages, good health care, and job security. https://t.co/bbBCKRthsX
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) September 16, 2019
September 15, 2019: Bernie Sanders. Sanders embed:
Congratulations to @StationCasinos Fiesta Henderson workers and @Culinary226! You deserve the strength and stability that a union brings. This is how we are going to rebuild the middle class all across America. https://t.co/fzXcynoKQW
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) September 15, 2019
Every worker deserves the right to a fair contract & job security. Congratulations to the 300+ @stationcasinos workers at Fiesta Henderson on their victory in joining @Culinary226. https://t.co/OxVoVsIwk0
— Tom Steyer (@TomSteyer) September 15, 2019
It's time for @StationCasinos management to sit down and negotiate a fair contract with @Culinary226 workers. https://t.co/p4sFECnK9t
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) September 19, 2019
The freedom to organize is an American freedom. That’s why I’m proud to stand with @Culinary226 workers in their fight for their rights at Station Casinos in Nevada. pic.twitter.com/UnaI0OBxyH
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) December 2, 2019