Vegas' Sizable Gaming Establishments Embrace Union Membership
All Major Casinos on Las Vegas Strip Now Unionized Under Culinary Workers Union Local 226
As of August 2025, a historic achievement has been reached in Las Vegas as all major casinos on the Strip are now unionized under the Culinary Workers Union Local 226. This milestone, spanning the union's 90-year history, marks the successful unionization of longtime holdouts like The Venetian, which had resisted unionization for 25 years but recently agreed to union representation following a change in ownership. The Fontainebleau, the Strip's newest casino, also signed its first labor contract, rounding out complete union coverage of major casinos.
The Culinary Union, representing about 60,000 workers—most in Las Vegas—secured recent contracts that include pay raises up to 32%, improved workplace conditions, pensions, health insurance, and other benefits. This strong unionization in Las Vegas notably contrasts with the national trend of declining union membership.
Labor leaders and casino management see the unionization as a positive partnership. The Venetian’s CEO affirmed confidence in a beneficial ongoing relationship, and workers like Susana Pacheco, a housekeeper who joined the union after 16 years in her job, report improved working conditions and quality of life.
The union's reach extends well beyond the casino floor. Its endorsements carry significant weight, especially among Democrats. However, Republican lawmakers have pushed for reforms to the National Labor Relations Board and other regulatory agencies. President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at curbing collective bargaining rights for certain federal employees.
Amid a slower tourism season this summer, the union contracts have offered workers greater stability. Hotel occupancy on the Strip fell from 88% to 82% in June, according to data from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. In June, visitor numbers dropped 11% compared to the same time last year on the Las Vegas Strip. A significant drop in Canadian tourists to the US this year is also contributing to the tourist slump.
Despite these challenges, the consolidation of casinos along the Las Vegas Strip is comparable to the dominance once held by the Big Three automakers in Detroit. A handful of major corporations such as MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, and Wynn Resorts control the majority of casinos on Las Vegas Boulevard.
The Culinary Union's longstanding presence in Las Vegas is a strength, noted by Ruben Garcia, a professor and director of the workplace program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas law school. The union's endorsements and the improved labor contracts offer a beacon of hope in an industry that is often transient and challenging for workers.
[1] Las Vegas Review-Journal, "Culinary Union secures contract with The Venetian", June 2025. [2] CNN Business, "Fontainebleau signs first labor contract, unionizing all major Las Vegas Strip casinos", August 2025. [3] Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Union Membership - 2024" [4] Culinary Workers Union Local 226, "Contract Highlights" (accessed August 2025)
Workers like Susana Pacheco, now under the Culinary Union Local 226, see improved working conditions and quality of life following the unionization of all major casinos on Las Vegas Strip, a significant achievement in the city's 90-year history. Meanwhile, the national trend of declining union membership contrasts with this development, as Republican lawmakers push for reforms to regulatory agencies that could potentially alter collective bargaining rights.
