Striking Culinary Union downtown - April 12

The local Culinary and Bartenders Union approved a strike against 10 Downtown Vegas casinos.

Binion's, El Cortez, Four Queens, Fremont, Golden Gate, Golden Nugget, Las Vegas Club, Main Street Station, Plaza and The D all have expired contracts with the union. Shortly after the strike was approved, the union started getting their troops in order to picket outside the hotels beginning April 12.

Most of the hotels without contracts are under the canopy of the Fremont Street Experience (FSE). The strike is set to begin in front of those hotels April 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Depending how picketers are positioned, there may be a huge cluster of people in small confined pockets inside FSE. It’s possible that the hotels and union will agree on a new agreement before any picketing takes place, but the Culinary Union in Las Vegas has a history of not messing around.

This is from Vegas Chatter:

http://www.vegaschatter.com/story/2014/3/31/123918/883/vegas-travel/In+Vegas%2C+Union+Workers+Prepare+To+Picket+On+Fremont+Street

 

Sent an email to my local buddy. We were supposed to do dinner at Hugo's Cellar the 18th. Don't know if that will screw up our plans or not?

 

I've been reading this might happen. I guess they bring in replacement workers during this time?

Do these things usually get violent for people trying to visit a property or are they usually just vocal protests?

 

Shouldn't get above verbal if Metro does their job. Last one and very long one that got physical quite a few times was the New Frontier strike back in the 1990's. That was the Culinary Workers as well. Haven't heard of any "strike problems" since.

 

Good question by Josh. Anyone know if they bring in replacement workers or do the affected restaurants close until the thing is settled?

 

As I said, we were supposed to have dinner at Hugo's the 18th. I emailed my buddy and he's going to call Hugo's to see how they're going to handle this. Replacements would be my guess.....just hope it doesn't hurt the quality of food/service.

I'll let y'all know if he finds out anything.

 

Hopefully they settle it soon. It will be interesting to see what your friend finds out Jack.

Even if they don't settle and the employees continue to cover their shifts, the number of protesting employees will jam Fremont up pretty good (judging from the photo posted on Vegas Chatter of the last picket outside of the Cosmopolitan in 2013). The union has more than 60,000 members.

They did just settle with union members who work at strip properties so there is hope they can come to an agreement soon.

Glad I'm returning home on the 10th. April 12th looks like a good day to avoid downtown.

 

Crap, i planned to go downtown on the 12th for fremont street at night, and was going to eat at 777.

 

In general, people "in the know" on both sides expect a settlement - but are prepared for a strike nonetheless. It's likely a potential settlement will strongly resemble the one this same union reached with The Strip casinos.

Like others here, I'm also hoping both sides compromise and work this out. I'll be in town the weekend of the strike (if it occurs) and would much prefer it be business as usual on FSE.

Bill

 

The hotels will bring in replacement workers to fill the void created by the strike.

Being the hard core Union supporter that I am, I will not cross their picket line and I will not support any of those businesses listed as long as a strike is in place. Heck, I may even help them carry some picket signs as well.

Honestly, I hope they do reach an agreement before the scheduled strike takes place.

 

Not a fan of collusion amongst employers OR employees. I'll give extra business to any hotel that suffers a strike.

 

this was going for a long time at the cosmo and they had plenty of workers to cover there jobs, pickers where out by las veg blvd marching

 

the cosmo workers are not on strike the cosmo is not union that is why they are picketed

 

Does anyone know why The Cal is not affected? Are their employees non-union, or part of a union other than the Culinary Union? I figured Cal employees would belong to the same union as the employees of MSS and Fremont. Or perhaps Cal employees are part of the same union and their contract is still current?

 

I assume The Cal is current on their contract. As a sister property downtown I assume they are union. However I am not sure about the Gold Coast/Orleans?
In the meantime I will avoid these places until they settle.

 

I'm glad I postponed my trip until June. I'm staying at MSS and that would have sucked lol.

 

Glad I'm leaving the 12th

 

Staying Downtown 11-14th. Not going to let it affect my trip.:Þ

 

^^^ This.

 

Cal is totally non-union. I have tried over the years to get an explanation of why that is, but never got a satisfactory answer.

Same GM and management team for Cal & MSS.