The Venetian and Palazzo Las Vegas and the influential Culinary Union 226 announced this week they have reached a tentative agreement on terms for the casino resort’s first union contracts.
The Venetian was opened in 1999 by Sheldon Adelson and his company, Las Vegas Sands. Its Italian-inspired architecture and replica Venetian canals have seen it become a Sin City staple over the following two and a half decades.
The billionaire Adelson was staunchly opposed to unionization, and the properties remained one of the few on the Las Vegas Strip without a union contract. However, when Adelson died in 2021, Sands sold up its U.S. casinos shortly after.
New owner Apollo Global Management has now negotiated a deal in principle for its more than 4,000 hospitality workers with the Culinary Union. It remains to be signed off in a ratification vote by union members. That is expected to happen in the next week.
“The workers at The Venetian Resort have now made history by unionizing 25 years after the property opened its doors. This contract not only guarantees job security and fair wages, but it also upholds the standards that the Culinary Union has fought to establish in Las Vegas,” said a statement from Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for the Culinary Union.
“The Venetian Resort Las Vegas has a long history of respecting our Team Members and putting their needs and interests at the center of our decision-making process,” said Patrick Nichols, Venetian Resort president and CEO.
The Contract Agreement
The new agreement is set to cover four years, meaning it will expire in 2028. It offers benefits on a similar level to those won by union workers in 2023. That includes clauses for pay increases, job security, and workload management.
Last year’s threat of strike action approaching the weekend of the inaugural September Las Vegas Grand Prix forced the casino operators’ hands, and new contracts were agreed on just a day before the deadline.
Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, and Wynn Resorts were then followed by almost every other operator on the Las Vegas Strip. Only the Venetian and Palazzo and Virgin Hotels Las Vegas remained without a union contract. That was until Fontainebleau Las Vegas opened in December 2023.
Now, though, it looks like the Venetian and Palazzo will be agreeing to a contract if it is signed-off as expected. It will see some 4,000 workers given an average pay raise of 32% over the next four years. The Union says it is now looking to the Fontainebleau to start negotiations with unionized workers.
Meanwhile, The Venetian recently announced a major $1.5 billion redevelopment on the heels of last year’s 25th anniversary. That included this month’s opening of a new poker room.
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
