STATEMENT by Geoconda Argüello-Kline regarding a mandatory mask policy

ONLINE / TWEET

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Wednesday, June 24th, 2020

MEDIA CONTACT:

Bethany Khan: bkhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088

STATEMENT by Geoconda Argüello-Kline regarding a mandatory mask policy:

The Culinary Union has been calling for all customers to wear masks in public spaces since early May, and we held a press conference earlier this week demanding this policy be implemented in casinos throughout Nevada. 

It’s a victory for workers that Caesars Entertainment is now requiring masks for all customers in public spaces. A mandatory mask policy is a good step towards protecting workers and the hospitality industry in Nevada, but much more has to be done.

Now, all other Nevada casinos must adopt the same mandatory mask policy and Governor Sisolak should mandate that they do so as well.

The Culinary Union also demands the Nevada Gaming Control Board adopt the recommendations by the Southern Nevada Health District with respect to requiring face coverings by all persons in public, as well as mandatory and regular testing of all frontline employees in casino hotels.

The Culinary Union is demanding safety for all hospitality and gaming workers in Nevada and is tracking what casino employers are doing to prevent COVID-19 in the following areas on CulinaryClean.org

  1. Requiring daily cleaning of guest rooms
  2. Mandatory testing of all employees for COVID-19 before returning to work and regular testing thereafter 
  3. Providing adequate COVID-19 PPE for employees
  4. Enforcing social distancing and other COVID-19 prevention measures
  5. Requiring guests to wear face masks in all public areas
  6. Posting a COVID-19 safety plan on public-facing website  

Culinary Union’s Public Health Guidelines for Gaming Facilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic: https://www.culinaryunion226.org/news/press/body/2020-05-05-Culinary-Union-public-health-guidelinesFINAL.pdf 

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 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 -- approximately 55% women, 54% Latinx, 19% White, 15% Asian, 10% Black, and less than 1% Indigenous Peoples — and consists of guest room attendants, cocktail and food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks, bartenders, laundry and kitchen workers. The Culinary Union has been fighting for fair wages, job security, and good health benefits for workers in Nevada for 85 years.  

CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226 

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