For a quarter century, the Venetian, one of the last bastions of non-unionized labor on the Las Vegas Strip, stood impervious to the organizing efforts of the Culinary Workers Union. Nonetheless, a recent change in ownership has allowed for union representation at the Venetian. Simultaneously, the Fontainebleau, the latest addition to the Strip, inscribed its inaugural labor contract. Reports indicate these agreements, finalized at the end of last year, signify a milestone: for the first time in the Culinary Union’s 90-year history, all mainstay casinos on the Strip are unionized.
The Culinary Union, bolstered by a 60,000-member force, most of whom are in Las Vegas, is the largest labor union in Nevada. According to reliable sources, the Culinary Union’s achievement is an outlier in a national climate where union membership is generally dwindling.
The fresh contract appears to already be improving the lives of workers like Susana Pacheco—a housekeeper at one of the Strip’s casinos—who now enjoys a more manageable workload, better remuneration, and guaranteed days off, allowing for more time with her children. “Now with the union, we have a voice,” Pacheco said. This suggests a significant transformation in workers’ lives as a result of this unionization.
The labor movement’s triumph arrives at a juncture when union membership nationwide is at a record low. This development follows earlier reports that approximately 10% of U.S. workers belonged to a union in 2024, down from 20% in 1983, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The decline is attributed, in part, to Republican-led efforts to reduce union power, including so-called “right to work” laws that permit workers to decline union membership and dues.
This raises important questions about the future of unionization in the United States. Ruben Garcia, professor and director of the workplace program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas law school, posits that the Culinary Union’s resilience is rooted in its deep ties to Las Vegas, its adaptability to the casino industry’s growth and corporatization, and its history of navigating complex power dynamics with casino owners and operators.
While some workers appreciate the benefits that union membership brings, others express resistance to unionization. Despite these divergent perspectives, it appears that the majority of workers—between 95 to 98% at each casino, according to the union—opt for union membership.
As we understand it today, unionization in the hospitality industry in Las Vegas is a complex issue with far-reaching implications for workers, business owners, and the broader community. This latest development may signal a turning point in industry relations, but questions remain.
