LVH workers, Culinary and Bartenders unions reach agreement

Workers at the LVH reached a tentative agreement on a new five-year contract with Culinary and Bartenders unions, it was announced Wednesday.

The contract would replace the agreement that expired last June. Employees still need to ratify the deal.

The settlement with LVH means Culinary Workers Local 226 and Bartenders Local 165 have reached new contracts for non-gaming workers with all Strip-area casinos, except Margaritaville, which is operated within the Flamingo.

The unions previously reached deals with casinos operated by MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment Corp, as well as the Riviera, Tropicana, Treasure Island and Stratosphere.

In addition to Margaritaville, the unions have yet to reach new contract agreements with several downtown casinos including Fremont, Main Street Station, Four Queens, Binion’s, Plaza, Las Vegas Club, The D, Golden Nugget, El Cortez and the Golden Gate. The Culinary is still seeking a new contract with Brady Linen Services.

“We are not done because the thousands of workers downtown and in the laundries do not have new contracts yet,” Culinary Secretary-Treasurer Geoconda Arguello-Kline said in a statement. “We hope we can reach a fair settlement with the remaining unsettled houses very soon.”

The unions scheduled a strike authorization vote for March 27. If the vote passes, the union may call a strike against any of the companies without a contract at any time.

In February, members voted to end a contract extension that had been put in place in June, meaning workers can now strike and picket outside workplaces.

The union previously approved a dues increase to create a financial cushion in case a walkout occurs.

Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3871. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.