Culinary Union Avoids Strike In Las Vegas

Courtesy photo.

Ahead of Superbowl LVIII, the Culinary Union has sent a letter to the Las Vegas Raiders requesting that the team support labor peace as workers demand the right to organize after non-union workers at Allegiant Stadium approached the Culinary and Bartenders Unions about unionizing. Card check neutrality, where employers remain neutral and respect their employee’s choice whether to unionize without intimidation, fear tactics, retaliation, harassment, or bullying, has been the standard in Las Vegas for hundreds of thousands of Culinary Union members in nearly 90 years.

UNITE HERE President, D. Taylor sent a letter to the President of the Las Vegas Raiders, Sandra Douglass Morgan with the request: “[Allegiant Stadium] workers are demanding the right to organize as soon as possible. To that end, we intend to ask each of the…employers to ask to enter into a cardcheck/neutrality agreement that will allow workers to express their choice on unionization. Under such an agreement, the union and the employer will each assume obligations that will permit the employer’s employees to decide whether a majority of them want union representation through a process that is both fair and harmonious. It’s a win for everyone, including the Raiders,” said D. Taylor, President of UNITE HERE in the letter sent January 8, 2024.

On January 25, Sandra Douglass Morgan, president of the Las Vegas Raiders responded: “…the Raiders organization will always respect the legal right of employees to select a bargaining representative of their choosing…Rest assured, however, that the Raiders organization will not do anything to impede their right to do so if they are so inclined.”

Last week, the Culinary Union sent a letter to approximately 27 different Allegiant Stadium service providers demanding card check neutrality agreements, while urging the Las Vegas Raiders step up and do the right thing. Nevada taxpayers contributed $750 million dollars to the construction of the Allegiant Stadium, which was the largest taxpayer investment ever made in a Stadium project up until that point. In return, Nevadans were promised by advocates that the new Stadium would lead to high value job opportunities, where workers could make an average salary of $39,000 per year, but that’s not how it turned out for many. Today, too many workers at Allegiant Stadium don’t earn enough to support their families, must work more than one job to make a living, and don’t have health care.

“Low wages are not the only way in which Allegiant Stadium’s non-union workforce lags behind the Las Vegas standard. Union workers, including Levy workers at Allegiant Stadium who are unionized, have free family Culinary Union health benefits, a pension, job security, and many other benefits on top of the fair wage they are paid,” said Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union. “Stadium cleaners, ushers, ticket-takers, and concession workers deserve to be treated with dignity and respect at Allegiant Stadium. The Culinary Union stands in complete support with the non-union workers at Allegiant Stadium as they demand the right to organize and win a better future for themselves and their families and calls on the Las Vegas Raiders to take responsibility and do the right thing for these workers. The Culinary Union urges the Las Vegas Raiders, who got $750 million of taxpayers money to build their stadium, to support workers in their call for a fair organizing process.”

“The NFLPA joins Culinary Union in calling upon the management of Allegiant Stadium companies to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our stadium workers by respecting their right to organize and allowing a fair process for them to form a union. Just like in football, where unity is key to success, stadium workers deserve the opportunity to stand together and negotiate for fair wages, better working conditions, and the respect they rightfully deserve. This is a win-win situation for both sides. When we operate as a united front, we elevate not only the game but also the entire fan experience,” said Lloyd Howell, Executive Director of the NFL Players Association.

“I’m fighting for fair pay for cashiers like me. We’ve been making $13 for years, and in the 4 years I’ve worked at Allegiant Stadium, we haven’t seen a raise and that’s not fair. I can’t wait for the union to come in. I love my job, and the Raiders are my football team, but we need fair treatment,” said Vickey Powell, Levy cashier at Allegiant Stadium for nearly 4 years. “I’m not just fighting for myself; I take care of my kids, grandchildren, niece, and nephews. It’s tough because one job should be enough, but low pay makes it hard to keep other workers, and they leave. We deserve fair pay, respect, and acknowledgment of our struggles.”

Non-union workers at Allegiant Stadium are being left behind:

*ABM Industries advertises custodial jobs for just $15 per hour. If those custodians could work full-time at that wage, they would earn just $31,200 a year. But of course, they can’t work full-time. They can only work when there are events available. Meanwhile, unionized workers performing similar custodial work at casinos on the Las Vegas Strip earn $25.24 per hour, or $51,700 a year.

*Cashiers at non-union concessions operated by Levy earn just $13 per hour. If those cashiers could work full-time at that wage, they would earn barely over $27,000 a year. But again, they can’t even earn that because they can’t work full-time. In contrast, unionized cashiers at the Las Vegas Convention Center earn $23.54 per hour, or almost $49,000 a year.

*S.A.F.E. management advertises starting wages for ticket takers at just $13.25 per hour, or the equivalent of just over $27,000 a year. That is well below the wage for any union job of any kind at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“Leaving a good union job for this position was a disappointment to me because none of the promised benefits materialized. It’s disheartening to feel unequal and struggle financially while the Raiders Stadium rakes in money, but I’m only paid $14.25 an hour. Despite my passion for the team and this job, the reality is hard to overlook. Las Vegas was told we’d have real jobs with decent wages, not unlivable wages,” said Florenda Tullao, Levy lead cashier at Allegiant Stadium for 4 years. “Working 50-hours a week and juggling multiple jobs should not be our reality. Retirement seems distant, especially with the broken promises. The hope of retiring in 10 years would be more feasible if we were union with proper health coverage, pension, and job security. I would urge the Raiders to acknowledge our contribution during events and reciprocate the support. If we make every game-day smooth and help sell tickets, why can’t they ensure our well-being and fair compensation?”

Non-union workers at Allegiant Stadium want the right to organize:

*Stadium cleaners employed by ABM Industries.

*Ushers and ticket-takers employed by S.A.F.E. Management.

For more information, visit https://culinaryunion226.org.