A powerful union of Las Vegas hotel and casino workers has reached an agreement with MGM Resorts International, further softening the threat of a city-wide strike ahead of a grand prix expected to bring 100,000 visitors.
The tentative deal Thursday came a day after the union reached its first agreement with Caesars Entertainment Inc. The labor group must also reach a pact with Wynn Resorts Ltd. by 5 a.m. Friday to avoid a strike. MGM employs nearly 25,000 union workers across eight Las Vegas properties who must now approve the deal.
All three casino operators are racing to reach a deal with Culinary Workers Union Local 226 before a Formula One race weekend that kicks off Nov. 16, projected to bring the city nearly $1.3 billion — more than double the economic impact of the Super Bowl scheduled for February.
The labor dispute was months in the making, with workers laboring under expired contracts at 18 resorts on the Vegas strip, including the MGM Grand, Bellagio, and Caesars Palace.
Workers are demanding higher wages to make up for inflation and personal risks they took on during the Covid-19 pandemic. They’re also asking to restore daily room cleaning, saying the service cuts have cost jobs, and want advanced notice for any new technology introduced.
The union didn’t immediately disclose the terms of the MGM agreement.
The standoff is the latest in a series of big labor disputes fueled by soaring living costs in cities, a tight labor market, and a record corporate profits. The unrest has hit Hollywood, health care, and auto industries, with workers often emerging with bigger-than-usual raises.
