Civil Disobedience During Culinary Union Strike Results in Arrests

Dozens of hospitality workers in Las Vegas were arrested recently after engaging in a peaceful protest at an off-strip hotel casino.

57 People Arrested at a Demonstration on Paradise Road

The strike of Virgin Hotel Las Vegas workers ahead of the Grand Prix started last week. After seven days, members of the Culinary Union and Virgin Las Vegas employees asking for better working conditions engaged in a demonstration on Paradise Road near the hotel-casino. While the protest wasn’t violent, the actions of the striking hospitality workers and Union members were seen as “civil disobedience,” which ultimately resulted in the arrest of 57 people.

The peaceful civil disobedience demonstration just outside Virgin Las Vegas was organized on the same day as the start of the F1 Grand Prix. Previously, the Union criticized the hotel casino for hiring strikebreakers, calling temporary workers hired to fill in the vacant spots of striking employees “scabs.” The Union also encouraged guests and the public not to cross the picket line, defending the striking workers of Virgin Las Vegas.

Photos released via X, formerly Twitter, show the arrest of Union members in the recent non-violent protest. At least a dozen Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers can be seen in the photos, responding to the civil disobedience. Besides striking employees, law enforcement reportedly arrested the Culinary Union’s president, Diana Valles, as well as secretary-treasurer Ted Pappageorge.

Currently, it is unclear if the detainees are facing any charges. The Union acknowledged that its leaders and workers were recently arrested during the protest. “The company has held more than a year without a contract – now it’s time for Virgin to step up,” the Culinary Union wrote.

The Hotel and Casino Criticizes the Union

Virgin Las Vegas rejected the Union’s recent calls that the temporary workers were non-professionals and “scabs.” The hospitality and gaming operator deemed the allegations that those workers were untrained, dishonest and unsuitable for the job as wrong and baseless. In addition, Virgin Las Vegas explained that the workers who are currently on strike will retain their positions as they are on strike leave and won’t be terminated.

Virgin Hotels Las Vegas released an update regarding the recent civil disobedience. As announced by KTNV Las Vegas, the hotel and casino operator explained its position in a statement: “It is disappointing that Culinary Union leaders are prepared to spend their own members’ resources on fake arrests, rather than engaging in constructive good faith bargaining – something they have not yet done.”

The contract of approximately 700 non-gaming workers at Virgin Las Vegas expired last summer. While the Culinary Union attempted to negotiate a new contract, those efforts have failed so far. Last year, a number of recognizable Las Vegas Strip operators signed new contracts, agreeing to better working conditions, pay increases, health benefits and other incentives for their employees.