ONLINE / SOCIAL
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, September 22, 2025
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bethany Khan: bkhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088
Culinary Union hosted press conference with Senator Catherine Cortez Masto to highlight the impact of the Trump Slump on working families in Nevada
LIVESTREAM / BROLL / PHOTOS
Las Vegas, NV – Today at the Culinary Union, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Culinary Union President Diana Valles and Culinary Union members to call out the devastating impacts of the Trump economy on Nevada’s largest industry – hospitality.
Since the beginning of the Trump administration, reckless policies have slowed tourism, raised prices, and hurt working families across Nevada. Tariffs, mass deportation threats, and Medicaid cuts are creating chaos in the lives of working people, while billionaires and big corporations profit off the Big [Ugly] Bill.
“The Trump Slump many of us were fearing has arrived in Las Vegas and it has been impacting our union jobs and workers’ hours. Families are paying more for groceries, gas, and housing. Sky-high auto insurance rates and medical prices are crushing working people, while billionaires and big corporations got permanent tax breaks in the Big Ugly Bill. Instead of delivering relief, the Trump administration has focused on arresting dishwashers and gardeners, slashing benefits for seniors, and pushing chaotic tariffs that have driven away customers from Canada, Mexico, Southern California, and around the world. But Las Vegas is a union town. We know how to fight and we know how to win,” said Diana Valles, President of the Culinary Union. “For 90 years, the Culinary Union has transformed Nevada’s economy into one where hospitality workers have strong union contracts, fair wages, the best health care benefits, and respect on the job. Our history is proof that when workers are united, we win. While the Trump administration is creating chaos and uncertainty in the lives of working people, unions and workers are fighting back. We are organizing, growing, and building power everyday for the working class. This year, Culinary Union is celebrating our 90th anniversary and the power that workers in Nevada have built. We will continue to stand up to the Trump administration for its anti-worker policies, fight for permanent solutions that protect working families and keep immigrant families together, protect TPS, defend DACA, and win a better future for the next generation. Nevada’s economy is built on hospitality and workers make sure this town runs successfully everyday. We’ve all worked so hard to rebuild this economy after COVID, we cannot afford to let Trump’s reckless policies destroy it. Culinary Union members and our families deserve better. Together with political leaders like Senator Cortez Masto, we will keep fighting and we will win for working families across Nevada.”
“The Trump Administration’s chaos is making life harder for our union workers and for Nevada families,” said Senator Catherine Cortez Masto. “I’m proud to stand with the hardworking men and women of Culinary Local 226. These Nevadans are the backbone of our travel and tourism industry, and we must continue to work together and push back against Trump’s devastating economic policies.”
“Right now we’re seeing fewer customers coming to Las Vegas from all over, even locals aren’t spending like usual. My hours have been recently cut from eight to six and like many of my coworkers, I’ve had to get a second job just to keep up with the rising costs of groceries and everyday items. It’s not just me - so many hospitality workers are struggling to make ends meet and I worry about what the future holds for my daughters, especially with prices going up on everything. I’m grateful that Culinary Union is fighting to protect our rights, pushing for changes like permanent tax relief on tips, and working to make things better for all of us,” said Yolanda Garcia, a fountain worker and Culinary Union member 10 years.
“I got laid off this week because the tourism industry in Nevada has been impacted. There has been a dip in customers visiting Las Vegas. I’ve worked in this industry for years and it’s been hard seeing the schedule go from full to almost empty. It’s not just me that’s impacted by the economic uncertainty and chaos right now. A lot of my coworkers are in the same situation. We’re all waiting and hoping things get better, but right now, it’s tough. I’m grateful for Culinary Union fighting for us and making sure we have support during these uncertain times,” said Aaron Mahan, a food server and Culinary Union member for 15 years.
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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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