Off-Strip casino-hotel reaches deal with union ending strike
After nearly 10 weeks on strike, workers at the off-Strip Virgin casino-hotel have a new contract.
Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 have agreed to terms with Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, the two sides announced Wednesday. A five-year contract was ratified “by a vote of 100 (percent),” according to a Culinary 226 social media post.
“Virgin Hotels Las Vegas and the Culinary and Bartenders Unions are pleased to be moving past their contract negotiations as each looks forward to fostering a positive and collaborative working relationship for the benefit of all team members at the property,” the parties said in a press release.
The agreement effectively ends one of Las Vegas’ longest labor demonstrations in more than a decade. Workers at Virgin began striking on Nov. 15.
The previous contract expired in June 2023.
The union had been seeking a deal that was in-line with contracts at other off-Strip properties, routinely calling on Virgin’s ownership group — made up of JC Hospitality LLC and partnerships with Juniper Capital Partners, Virgin Group, LiUNA, Fengate Asset Management, Dream and Orlando Development — to “accept the Las Vegas standards.”
Throughout the 68-day strike, Virgin management described the sought-after wage increases as not financially sustainable for the property and accused the union of negotiating in bad faith.
Details of the new contract were not immediately available.
Culinary has yet to respond to questions about the terms of the deal or how the agreed-upon contract differs from previous versions offered by Virgin management. The property deferred a request for comment to Wednesday’s joint press release.
Those involved are “committed to the resolution of our dispute and to maintaining a union standard at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas that provides for its team members’ families and fosters a better community for all,” the press release states.
In December, the Nevada Gaming Control Board granted full control of Virgin’s casino operations to its top two executives, Cliff Atkinson and Chad Konrad. Atkinson will assume the role of chief executive officer while Konrad will continue as chief financial officer, a position he has held at the property since it was known as the Hard Rock Hotel.
Contact David Danzis at ddanzis@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0378. Follow @ac2vegas-danzis.bsky.social.