Nevada Culinary Union Cites Georgia Strike in Opposing License for Evolution Gaming

Culinary Workers Union Local 226 made a public comment to the Nevada Gaming Control Board on Thursday, urging the regulator to take a closer look at Evolution Gaming’s practices before awarding the company a Nevada gaming license.

Software provider Evolution announced last month that it had acquired Las Vegas-based Galaxy Gaming for approximately $85 million in cash. 

Georgian Workers Strike Over Pay, Working Conditions

The company said it made the purchase to strengthen its land-based presence in the United States, as well as to help fuel overall growth for the company.

But the Culinary Union is taking issue with Evolution’s practices, particularly in the European nation of Georgia, where Evolution says it has 8,000 workers in Tbilisi.

“In spite of the company’s financial success, these Evolution workers in Georgia are fighting for higher pay, better and cleaner working conditions, and basic respect on the job,” Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge said in a statement.

More than 4,000 workers at Evolution Georgia went on strike on July 12. Evo Union, a trade union formed by the company’s workers, says that workers are demanding wage hikes, annual inflation adjustments to pay, the addition of the ability for customers to tip their workers, and improved health conditions, such as better insurance and the right to menstrual leave.

“The strike started after a legal process that included a 21-day medication period that ended on June 25,” the Culinary Union said in their statement. “The union gave the company notice three days prior to starting the strike. On August 12, four of the workers started a hunger strike.”

Most of the Georgian staff is made up of students, who are attracted to the idea that Evolution Georgia provides good first jobs for young people. However, workers also say that their hourly wages range from three Georgian lari ($1) to GEL 5 ($1.80) for shufflers and game presenters, with much of their monthly salaries tied to unreliable bonuses.

According to the Culinary Union, entry-level positions at Evolution Georgia were paying between 900 and 1225 GEL ($329 and $450) per month, compared to the average Georgian salary of around $718.50 per month.

Culinary Union Throwing Weight Around After Landing Historic Contract

Given the ongoing strike, the Culinary Union closed its statement with a call for Nevada regulators to reconsider licensing Evolution in the state.

“The Culinary Union offers solidarity to the Evolution workers in Georgia and asks the Nevada Gaming Commission to take into consideration the labor practices of this company in Georgia and anywhere else as the board reviews the potential application for a Nevada gaming license related to the acquisition of Galaxy Gaming,” the statement reads. 

“Culinary Union urges the Nevada Gaming Commission to reject Evolution’s application if it continues to refuse to treat its employees with respect and provide for decent wages and safe working conditions.”

The commentary on Evolution comes just days after the Culinary Union agreed to its first ever contract with the Venetian and Palazzo on the Las Vegas Strip. The contract, announced Tuesday, comes 25 years after Venetian opened its doors and must still be ratified by union workers at the two properties.

“Today’s tentative agreement on a new 4-year union contract with The Venetian Resort Las Vegas is a testament to the power of worker solidarity and determination,” Pappageorge said in a press release. “This contract not only guarantees job security and fair wages, but it also upholds the standards that the Culinary Union has fought to establish in Las Vegas.”