In April, Station Casinos-owned Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas saw its workers decide to unionize with two of the gambling city’s biggest unions. It seems that Station employees continue to feel that they need to have an extra layer of protection, as another two venues owned by the casino operator have followed suit. This brings to six the total number of Station properties since 2016 that have seen their employees unionize.
According to a press release from Bethany Khan of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226, Fiesta Rancho Hotel & Casino is the most recent Station venue to agree to join a union. Workers at the resort voted last Friday on the subject through an election overseen by the NLRB, and 85% of those who participated in the vote said yes.
Around 200 employees at the Fiesta Rancho property will be represented by two unions – the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and the Bartenders Union Local 165, both of which are part of the national UNITE HERE union. These are the same two unions that have been increasing their numbers over the past several months thank to employees at other venues agreeing to unionize.
A cook at Fiesta Rancho, Ronal Portillo, explains his reason for joining the union, offering, “I’m fighting for my families’ future. I’m a child of a Culinary Union guest room attendant, and I saw when my family had good healthcare benefits. My mom had peace of mind because she didn’t have to worry about taking me to the doctor. As a parent myself, I work hard every day to provide for my family and make this company successful – we don’t want to be left behind.”
Following that vote on Friday, another was held Saturday at the Sunset Station, another Station property in Vegas. As with Fiesta Rancho, the support for unionizing was overwhelming, with 83% of those participating saying Yes.
Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Geaconda Agüello-Kline said in a statement, “Workers are standing up and fighting! Two Station Casinos’ properties have voted to unionize by a majority this week. We call on Station Casinos to immediately to negotiate and settle a fair contract for the workers at Fiesta Rancho, Sunset Station, Palms, Green Valley Ranch, Palace Station, and Boulder Station.”
Station probably won’t accept the votes without putting up resistance, if past actions are any indication. When workers at Palms Casino agreed to unionize the company reportedly failed to recognize the action, resulting in the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) accusing it violating federal labor law.
