Las Vegas Unions, Virgin Hotels Agree to End 69-Day Strike

^{After more than two months on the picket lines, Culinary Union members were ready to call it quits in their fight against Virgin Hotels bosses before their protest lost too much steam. (Image: John Locher / AP)}

Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 reached a new deal with Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on Wednesday, ending a 69-day strike that impacted around 700 workers at the property.

The strike, which began on Nov. 15, was the longest by Las Vegas hotel workers since a six-year strike by Culinary Workers at the Frontier Hotel and Casino that ended in 1998.

Workers Pushed for Same Benefits as Other Strip Properties

The striking workers were seeking similar wage and benefit increases to those recently negotiated by other properties on and near the Las Vegas Strip. Workers at the Bellagio, MGM Grand, Caesars Palace and other properties saw a 32 percent salary increase over five years as a result of that 2023 agreement.

However, Virgin Hotels had argued that the economic realities of its properties made it unfeasible to offer that same increase to its non-gaming workers. But on Wednesday, the Culinary Union announced that an agreement had been reached.

Culinary spokeswoman Bethany Khan told The Nevada Independent that Virgin had accepted the same contract language that was in place at other Strip properties – the main point of contention between the workers and Virgin. The new benefits will start with a 10 percent raise for workers in the first year, which the Culinary Union says is the largest race in the union’s history.

“When we set a deal, whether it’s the Strip standards or the downtown standards, we commit that we’re going to get that deal,” Culinary Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge told the Nevada Independent last week.

The two sides vowed to move forward in a joint statement announcing the agreement.

“Virgin Hotels Las Vegas and the Culinary and Bartenders Unions are pleased to be moving past their contract negotiations as each looks forward to fostering a positive and collaborative working relationship for the benefit of all team members at the property,” the statement read. 

Surprise Agreement Came After Long Impasse

The resolution to the strike came as a surprise to many observers, as no new negotiations had been announced by either side since the strike began. The last meetings known to the public came in early November. 

However, Khan told The Nevada Independent that talks had restarted in just the last few days, and union members voted to accept the new terms on Wednesday.

Since the strike began, the union was supporting workers with $500 weekly payments in exchange for picketing outside of Virgin Hotels, which is located within walking distance of the Strip and near the Harry Reid International Airport. Those picket lines were down as of Wednesday afternoon. 

The Culinary Union had previously held a two-day strike at Virgin Hotels in May 2024 following five months of unfruitful negotiations. In June, Virgin offered what it termed a “Last, Best and Final Offer,” which consisted of $1 per hour raises starting in 2027 – far short of the approximately $9.21 per hour that workers at other casinos had received.