FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, September 1, 2025
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bethany Khan: bkhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088
Culinary Union hosted Workers’ Labor Day Rally, celebrates 90 years of fighting and winning for working families in Nevada
BROLL / PHOTOS / LIVESTREAM
Las Vegas, NV – The Culinary Union hosted a powerful Workers’ Labor Day Rally on Monday, September 1, 2025, outside of The Sphere, where 700 workers are in negotiations for a first-time union contract. Hundreds of Culinary Union members were joined by union members from the Bartenders Union Local 165, Nevada AFL-CIO, Southern Nevada Building Trades, Teamsters 631, and other unions to continue defending the right to organize and celebrate the Culinary Union’s 90th anniversary of fighting and winning for working families in Nevada.
“This Labor Day, workers in Nevada are united to win union contracts, strong worker protections, fair wages, guaranteed benefits, and a better future for the next generation of workers. From casinos in Downtown Las Vegas to non-union restaurants on the Strip, workers are organizing to ensure that one job should be enough. At a time when the labor movement is under attack and working families are facing skyrocketing prices for housing, gas, groceries, and insurance, Nevada’s unions are standing together to fight back against reckless policies from this administration that benefit billionaires while workers pay the price,” said Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union. “The “Trump Slump” has hit Las Vegas, with fewer visitors from Canada and Mexico, decreased tourism numbers and international customers, and economic uncertainty driven by tariffs, wild threats of annexation, mass deportation that separates families, and anti-worker policies. But workers in Las Vegas know how to fight and win. The labor movement is united to push back, organize, and to keep growing stronger. This Labor Day, we celebrate the power we’ve built and remain committed to keep fighting. Together, we will win a better future for working families in Nevada.”
“This year, the Culinary Union is celebrating its 90th anniversary and a proud legacy of fighting and winning for working families in Nevada,” said Diana Valles, President of the Culinary Union. “For nearly a century, our union has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with workers, transforming Nevada’s largest industry into one where hospitality workers have strong contracts, fair wages, and respect on the job. Generations of workers sacrificed and organized to win the union difference. Our history proves that when workers are united, we win. We’ve built real power for the working class in Nevada and we are proud to carry forward the militant rank-and-file organizing and direct action that built our union. We will keep fighting and winning for working families across the state.”
“Working at the Sphere has been a great experience. As a Custodian for 2 over years, I’m excited to be part of such a unique project in Las Vegas. We’ve been in negotiations for nearly a year now and we think it’s time to come together on a contract,” said James Johnson, a custodian at the Sphere for over 2 years. “I support my wife and daughter. My son-in-law recently passed away in a car accident so it has been a hard time for my daughter. It has been a struggle for us to pay the bills after losing a family member. We support this venue and the company. All we’re asking for is the same first-class Strip standard wages and benefits that other Culinary Union members in Las Vegas have.”
“After 25 years of organizing, Venetian workers became union and I was proud to stand up and fight for a better future. I support the Sphere workers who are in negotiations for a first-time union contract because I want them to have the same benefits that we have. The Sphere workers deserve to have the same Las Vegas Standard,” said Xoali Pilotzi, a guest room attendant at The Venetian for 2 years, and Culinary Union member for 5 years. “I’m willing to attend as many rallies and actions as needed until the Sphere workers win their union contract. Our brothers and sisters at the Sphere need our support and Culinary Union members will be there with them. My message to Sphere workers is don’t give up and keep going because the union has your back.”
“During the Virgin Strike, it was empowering to stand next to the strikers because I saw that it wasn’t just a fight for that contract alone, but it was also a fight to protect all of our union contracts across the city. We have each other's backs. We stand up for each other and the companies see that,” said Liz Montelongo, a cocktail server at The Cosmopolitan for 12 years, Shop Steward and Culinary Union member for 10 years. “I know that the Sphere workers are in negotiations for a first time union contract. We are here with them to support them and we won't walk away. Sphere workers, stay strong. We’re with you.”
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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 Latino/a, 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 60% immigrants. The demographics of Culinary Union members are approximately: 54% Latino/a, 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 90 years.
CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226
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