While their union negotiates a new contract, the food service employees at a Las Vegas Strip stadium plan to hold a demonstration under the bright lights of the famous tourist boulevard on Thursday night, August 10.
'One Job Is Enough'
Workers at T-Mobile Arena have been in contract talks with their employer Levy Premium Food Service for over a year, as per a statement released by the Culinary Workers Union, a political organization in Nevada. According to the employees, they need a fair contract so that "one job is enough to provide for their families."
The T-Mobile Arena is the home of the Vegas Golden Knights and is home to 200 Levy employees. The union represents 60,000 hospitality workers in Las Vegas and Reno.
The union's second gathering on the Strip in recent months highlights the ongoing negotiations with Levy, which provides food and drink services to stadiums, convention centers, and other venues across the country.
Thousands of people are expected to attend the Thursday rally, which will take place close to the arena. This news comes weeks after members voted 97% in favor of enabling a walkout if a contract cannot be agreed upon soon.
According to AP News, Levy issued a statement saying it was disheartened by the union's decision to protest after months of talks broke down. "We remain committed to working diligently with the Union to reach a fair agreement that shows our team members how much we value them ... and we look forward to returning to the bargaining table soon."
Looming Strike Risk
Since the arena opened in 2016, Lucia Orozco has been a chef there. She said that she and her husband, who works in hospitality at a neighboring Strip casino, rarely go over their budget very often. But they have no retirement savings and must rely on each salary they get. The 56-year-old chef was concerned since she is very close to retirement.
The strike threat hangs over the Golden Knights as they prepare for their first home preseason game on September 27 against the Los Angeles Kings and their regular season home opener on October 10 against the Seattle Kraken.
If the union continues to strike, it will occur a month following thousands of Southern California hospitality workers who went on protest for the same reasons (more pay and better benefits). It was the biggest strike in the union's history, they said.
Workers from the Strip and downtown Las Vegas are also likely to attend Thursday's march in support of the union.
In June, hundreds of members clad in red filled whole sidewalks on the Strip to attract attention to the contract discussions with Levy, waving posters reading "ONE JOB SHOULD BE ENOUGH" at passing motor vehicles.
