The main issues involved in the dispute are protection of the workers’ health plan and a demand for decreased workloads. The workers on May 16 voted overwhelmingly by a margin of 18,656 to 877 to authorize a strike at all area hotels that have not signed a contract with the union by 12:00 a.m. on June 1. Women comprise the largest number of the union work force employed at the hotels, with many of them hailing from Mexico and other countries throughout Latin America.

As of May 26, tentative agreements have been reached with four of the largest resorts--Park Place Entertainment, Harrah’s Entertainment, Mandalay Resort, and the Tropicana-owner Aztar Corp.

The five-year pact, which is subject to ratification by the workers, provides an increase of $3.23 an hour over the life of the contract. [The following day MGM Mirage announced they also would accept the proposed contract.]

According to an article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, "the bulk of the money would go to protect union health benefits in the first two years of the agreements and toward wage, benefit, training, and pension fund increases in the final three years."

The companies also agreed to freeze the number of rooms cleaned by each housekeeper during the life of the deals, and a few other modest steps to somewhat reduce the workload. The rising workload imposed by the bosses is a major issue for the housekeepers, who make up 9,000 of the 45,000-member of the Culinary union involved in the contract dispute.

The fight being led by this majority Latina workforce has raised issues that go beyond the immediate worker-employer relations. "It’s in the early stages, but there are more and more people saying, ‘This is not just about what’s going in the workplace, but it’s also about what’s going on in the schools, the city,’" noted Mayra Ocampo, program director for the local chapter of the Interfaith Council for Workers Justice. "Las Vegas is growing, and we have more and more Latinos and people willing to stand up for their rights."

The Latino population of Clark County, where Las Vegas is located, grew from 83,000 to 302,000 between 1990 and 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Hispanics now make up 22 percent of the county’s population.

"The face of the union is changing," stated Glen Arnodo, political director of the Culinary union. "I think what you’re feeling is the beginning of a social movement."  
 
 
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