Tensions continue to escalate at Harry Reid International Airport as culinary union members, in pursuit of a more equitable contract, engaged in a 24-hour strike yesterday against Village Pub in Terminal 3. The action, which commenced during the dark early hours and spanned until the following morning, marked the latest in a series of protests over wage increases and contract negotiations with Airport Concessions LLC. As reported by News3LV, the Culinary Union is actively seeking new contracts for cooks, fast food workers, bartenders, servers, and porters, many of whom haven’t seen a meaningful raise in several years.
The demonstration at the Village Pub is part of a larger battle for a new contract with disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs) at the airport. The Culinary Union argues that workers have been without adequate raises for up to four years, which is particularly biting as costs of living continue to climb—a sentiment shared during their recent civil disobedience that resulted in the detention of 24 union members near the airport. Ted Pappageorge, Culinary’s secretary-treasurer, was quoted by FOX5 Vegas noting that the strike “could significantly impact operations at Harry Reid International Airport ahead of the busy holiday season in Las Vegas.”
The Culinary Union, which represents nearly 400 workers across 21 airport outlets, has been in negotiations with Airport Concessions LLC, but to little avail thus far. Ahead of the strike, members had already voted unanimously on November 12 to authorize one, showing a united front in their demand for improved wages and sustained healthcare benefits. The decision to strike, as per a statement from Ted Pappageorge obtained by News3LV, was driven by the necessity to secure a “better future for their families.”…