Wynn Continues Last-Minute Negotiations with Culinary Union

Posted on: November 9, 2023, 09:13h. 

Last updated on: November 10, 2023, 11:09h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More
Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

Eyes are on whether Wynn Resorts’ approximately 5K Las Vegas hospitality workers will walk off the job at 5 a.m. (PT) Friday without an acceptable contract.

Wynn and Encore
Wynn and Encore, pictured above. Union representatives for workers at the two Las Vegas properties were meeting with management. A strike could take place on Friday. (Image: Booking.com)

Culinary Union members at Las Vegas’ Wynn and Encore properties reportedly were meeting one last time with management on Thursday to iron out an agreement.

Earlier on Thursday, Wynn Resorts revealed to investors during an earnings call that money was allocated for expected increases in wages that may be spelled out in a new contract with the Culinary Union, according to Las Vegas TV station KLAS.

Caesars, MGM Tentative Deals

Tentative agreements were already reached this week between the union and Caesars Entertainment, as well as MGM Resorts International.

On Thursday, the Culinary Union announced on X that a tentative deal for a five-year contract had been reached with MGM. That’s following a marathon 20-hour, closed-door negotiating session.

It impacts some 2oK employees at eight MGM properties. The deal still needs to be approved by the rank-and-file members of the union.

“Our employees are the heart of our company and the driving force in the success we’ve enjoyed in Las Vegas post-pandemic,” MGM Resorts CEO & President Bill Hornbuckle said in a Thursday statement.

We’re pleased to have reached a tentative agreement that averts a strike, gives our Culinary Union employees a well-earned boost to pay and benefits and reduces workloads — all while continuing to provide opportunities for growth and advancement,” the statement added.

On Wednesday, Caesars Entertainment reached a tentative agreement with the union. That also needs to be approved by about 10K rank-and-file union members.

Some 35K Las Vegas hospitality workers have been working without a contract since September. About 95% of the workers previously authorized a strike. Negotiations have lasted for about seven months.

Details on the new contracts weren’t released this week. Representatives of the Culinary Union said the tentative contracts include “the largest wage increases ever negotiated” in the union’s history, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The union also prioritized a reduced workload, job safety improvements, protection for workers given increased automation, and improvements in recall rights, the Review-Journal reported.

If Wynn Resorts hospitality workers strike, it could impact the Las Vegas Grand Prix, which begins on November 16 and concludes on November 18, and which is expected to bring more than 100K visitors to Las Vegas.

Detroit Strike Continues

Across the country, 3,700 workers have been on strike since October 17 at three Detroit gaming properties, including Hollywood Casino at Greektown, MGM Grand Detroit, and MotorCity Casino Hotel. Workers are urging people not to enter the three casinos.