MEDIA ADVISORY FOR:
Friday, February 6, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bethany Khan: bkhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088
Culinary Union to picket DBE operators at the LAS Harry Reid International Airport as nearly 400 workers continue push for a new contract
BROLL of the most recent picket @ LAS Airport
Las Vegas, NV - On Friday, February 6, 2026, Culinary Union will be picketing at the Harry Reid International Airport as nearly 400 workers push for a new contract.
WHO:
*Diana Valles, President of the Culinary Union
*Culinary and Bartenders Union members employed as cooks, fast food workers, bartenders, servers, and porters at Harry Reid International Airport DBE’s such as: American Bagel (T3), Bagelmania (T1), Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (T1 & T3), Jamba Juice (T1 & T3), Jersey Mike’s (T1), Nathan’s (T1), Port O’Subs (T1 & T3), and Wendy’s (T1)
WHAT: Picketing of DBE employers at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
WHEN: Friday, February 6, 2026 from 11:00am-3:00pm.
NOTE: Media access to Diana and DBE workers for English and Spanish interviews will only be available from 11am-1pm.
WHERE: Harry Reid International Airport - Terminal 1 (5757 Wayne Newton Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119).
WHY: Hundreds of Culinary and Bartenders Union members employed as cooks, fast food workers, bartenders, servers, and porters at Harry Reid International Airport disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs) are in negotiations for a new union contract, including protection of their health care benefits, and meaningful raises since many have not been given raises in 3-4 years.
“Workers at the DBE concessionaires at LAS Airport are fighting for a new contract that secures a better future for their families. That’s why the Culinary Union has picketed, protested, rallied, participated in civil disobedience, and has previously held a one day strike at the Village Pub,” said Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union. “LAS Airport workers employed at the DBE concessionaires deserve fair wage increases. They are organized and ready to strike at any time. Culinary Union has their back every step of the way is confident that we will win. Culinary Union celebrates our 90-year anniversary and we know first-hand the organizing and militancy it has taken to build Nevada’s middle class and to ensure working families can thrive. Nothing in our nine decades has been easily won and our good jobs weren’t simply handed to us. We made hospitality jobs in Las Vegas family-sustaining jobs with decades of sacrifice and strength and we will continue to win what workers deserve - a great union job with fair wages, job security, and the best health care benefits so that workers at Harry Reid International Airport can continue to provide for their families.”
Culinary and Bartenders Unions represent nearly 400 hospitality workers who are employed at 21 DBE outlets at the Harry Reid International Airport (LAS):
*Auntie Anne’s Soft Pretzels (T1)
*Bagel Mania (T1)
*Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (T1 & T3)
*Fresh Market on the Go (T1)
*Great American Bagel Bakery (T3)
*Jamba Juice (T1 & T3)
*Jersey Mike’s (T1)
*Jimmy John’s (T3)
*Lucky Streak (T1)
*Moe’s Southwest Grill (T1)
*Mrs. Fields Cookies & TCBY Treats (T1)
*Nathan’s (T1)
*Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen (T1)
*Port of Subs (T1)
*Quizno’s (T1)
*Rachel’s Kitchen (T1)
*Red Mango Store (T1)
*The Layover Bar (T1)
*Village Pub (T3)
*Villa Italian Kitchen (T1)
*Wendy’s (T1)
In November 2025, workers voted unanimously to authorize a strike and on December 5, 2025, 30 workers employed at LAS Airport DBE employer, Village Pub, walked off the job for 24-hours and closed down the Terminal 3 restaurant in a one-day strike.
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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 120,000 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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