Hundreds of Culinary Union workers went on strike at hotels along the Las Vegas Strip

Hundreds of workers went on strike Friday morning at a hotel near the Las Vegas Strip.

About 700 hospitality workers have walked off the job at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas as contract talks between the hotel and the Culinary Union collapse.

The Culinary Union said Friday’s action was its first open strike in 22 years. Culinary Union workers at the hotel also took part in a 48-hour strike in May, which the union said was the first in 22 years.

“The Virgin Las Vegas contract expired on June 1, 2023, and the workers are fighting for a new contract that will ensure a better future for their families. That is why the Culinary Union has called for a strike at Virgin Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 15, and is urging Las Vegas locals and customers not to cross the strike line together. and workers,” said Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer of the Culinary Union, in a statement sent to FOX Business.

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The Culinary Union is the largest in Nevada with over 60,000 employees. The union said no workers at other Las Vegas hotels were called to strike.

Pappageorge said Virgin Las Vegas’ proposal is “miles away” from what the union wants “and is an insult to all employees, which is why the committee voted unanimously to refuse to approve the second phase contract.”

The union said the filming staff will be outside the hotel 24 hours a day until the strike ends.

The workers left work at 5 am on Friday. (Culinary Union / Fox News)

“I don’t know how we’re different,” Virgin Las Vegas server Deanna Vann told FOX 5 of other Las Vegas hotel workers who successfully negotiated new contracts. “I get that we’re not like the other casinos on the Strip, but it’s the same thing as the Rio and Westgate. Most of the ones that aren’t on the Strip are unionized, and they’ve signed a contract, which is huge, compared to what they’re trying to offer.”

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One Canadian guest at Virgin Las Vegas said he has noticed a difference in hotel operations.

Virgin Las Vegas workers went on strike last May. (Culinary Union / Fox News)

“This morning, we went to order breakfast – room service – and they said it wasn’t available,” Lance Richards told FOX 5. “They’re not open today. I thought that was weird because part of the ad was 24 hours. Room service. So, we went to get breakfast outside the hotel, and we saw all these pickers and we found out why we can’t get room service.”

FOX Business has contacted Virgin Las Vegas for comment.

Virgin Las Vegas pointed to FOX 5 in its latest statement accusing the union of “bargaining in bad faith.”

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“When we concluded our last meeting on July 11, the ball was in the union’s court,” the hotel said this week. “We didn’t hear from the union until November 8th – after they had already set a strike deadline of November 15th. After waiting several months for the union to respond to our June proposal and come back to the table, their unconstructive approach and bad faith bargaining today was another disappointment.”