ONLINE / SOCIAL
MEDIA ADVISORY FOR:
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bethany Khan: bkhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088
Culinary Union to give public comment at the Clark County Commission regarding DBE operators at the Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
BROLL of the picket @ LAS Airport on February 6th
Las Vegas, NV - On Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 9:00am, Culinary Union, which represents nearly 400 Harry Reid International Airport workers employed as cooks, fast food workers, bartenders, servers, and porters at disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs), will be giving public comment at the Clark County Commission.
WHO:
*Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union
*LAS Airport DBE workers
WHAT: Culinary Union to give public comment at the Clark County Commission
WHEN: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 9:00am
LIVE STREAMED: https://www.youtube.com/@ClarkCountyNV
RSVP to Bethany for interviews post-public comment.
WHERE: Clark County Commission (500 S Grand Central Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV 89155).
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 for as long as it takes to win. 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 Disadvantaged Business Outlets (DBE) outlets at the Harry Reid International Airport (LAS):
*Airport Concessions, LLC (Village Pub and Grill - T3)
*ANB Concessions, LLC (Jimmy John's - T3, The Layover Bar - T1, & Wendy's - T1)
*Hospitality Culinaires, Inc (Jamba Juice - T1 & T3)
*JV Ventures (Auntie Anne's - T3 & Red Mango - T1)
*KamiMickens LLC (Fresh Market on the Go - T1, Jersey Mike's - T1, Lucky Streak Cocktail Lounge - T1, Nathan's - T1, & Villa Pizza - T1)
*M.R. Whitsett, Inc (Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen - T1, Mrs. Fields - T1, Port of Subs - T1, TCBY - T1, & The Great American Bagel Bakery - T3)
*SB Specialties, Inc (The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf - T1 & T3)
*The Day One Group, LLC (Moe's Southwest Grill - T1 & Siegel's Bagelmania - T1)
*Rachel's Kitchen at McCarran Airport, LLC (Rachel's Kitchen - T1)
*Wonderful, Inc. (Quiznos - T1)
In November 2025, workers voted unanimously to authorize a strike. 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. Culinary Union has been regularly picketing outside of LAS as workers push for a new union contract.
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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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