FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, May 28, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bethany Khan: bkhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088
STATEMENT by Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge regarding the proposed sale of Caesars Entertainment:
All Culinary Union members employed on the Las Vegas Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas are protected by strong union contracts. Caesars Entertainment is one of the largest employers of hospitality workers in Las Vegas, including 10,000 Culinary Union members employed at Caesars Entertainment properties in the state.
Casino resorts are dynamic workplaces and that’s why strong Culinary Union contracts are necessary and in place to protect workers.
Culinary Union has had strong relationships with both Caesars and Tilman Fertitta and we do not see that changing. We anticipate there will be discussions ahead about the full ramifications of this purchase and while we do not know all the details yet, we are confident that based on our relationships with both companies, we will continue to have a positive relationship going forward.
Culinary Union remains committed to ensuring that workers’ rights are respected, their jobs are protected, and the union contract is fully enforced.
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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 Latinx/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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