FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, April 30, 2020
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bethany Khan: bkhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088
Statement by Geoconda Argüello-Kline regarding expansive voting rights in Nevada:
We applaud efforts from leaders across the country encouraging adding a "vote by mail" to our options in upcoming elections, including here in Nevada.
However, moving towards a strictly vote by mail system, even in a lower turnout primary, will disenfranchise many Culinary Union members and cause confusion. Vote by mail should be an option, but not the ONLY option.
There is too much at stake and the Culinary Union urges the Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegasvke to add additional steps to ensure every voice can be heard this upcoming election.
Declaración de Geoconda Argüello-Kline referente al amplio derecho al voto:
Aplaudimos los esfuerzos de los líderes por todo el país que aprueban que se añada el “voto por correo” a nuestras opciones en las elecciones venideras, incluso aquí en Nevada.
Sin embargo, movernos hacia un sistema de votos estrictamente por correo, incluso en una elección primaria de menor concurrencia, privaría a muchos miembros de la Unión Culinaria de su derecho a votar y ocasionaría confusión. Emitir votos por correo debería ser una opción, pero no la ÚNICA opción.
Hay demasiado en juego y la Unión Culinaria urge a la Secretaria del Estado de Nevada Barbara Cegasvke a que añada pasos adicionales para asegurarse de que se escuche cada voz en estas próximas elecciones.
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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 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.
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CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226