The ongoing conflict between Station Casinos and the Culinary Union has taken a notable turn as it reaches the United States Supreme Court. On September 4, Chief Justice John Roberts declined Station’s urgent request to stay a federal appeals court ruling that instructed the company’s Red Rock Casino Resort Spa in Summerlin to adhere to a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) order obligating them to negotiate in good faith with the union.
This decision stems from a 2019 labor vote that ultimately failed. The NLRB found that Red Rock impeded a fair voting process, leading the casino to file a lawsuit. Last month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld the NLRB’s ruling. After a rehearing request was rejected on August 6, the appeals court also denied Station’s request for a stay pending Supreme Court review on August 24.
While Red Rock may still seek to have the Supreme Court hear the case, compliance with the NLRB’s mandate is required in the interim. This includes recognizing the union upon request and posting employee rights notices, among other obligations.
Station expressed discontent with the NLRB’s decision, claiming it contradicts the overwhelming vote of Red Rock team members who opted against joining the Culinary Union. In a statement, the company contended that this ruling undermines their ability to provide benefits to employees and negates the team members' choice to remain union-free, attributing the ruling to the company's positive treatment of its staff.
The feud between Station and Culinary has a long history filled with public disagreements, regulatory complaints, and legal battles. The 2019 election at Red Rock significantly intensified their rivalry. On November 19, 2019, Station announced a substantial benefits overhaul for its 14,000 employees across ten properties. Just two days later, the Culinary Union filed to represent workers at Red Rock, leading to a vote that saw the employees reject unionization with a tally of 627 to 534. However, both the NLRB and the D.C. appeals court ruled that the company had acted in a manner that compromised the integrity of the election.
Despite Station’s firm stance against the union, Culinary has made progress, with all properties on the Las Vegas Strip now unionized. In late 2023 and early 2024, Culinary successfully used city-wide strikes to secure new multi-year labor agreements with major operators including Wynn, Caesars, and MGM.
Historically, Las Vegas Sands was another significant non-union entity, but after the sale of the Venetian-Palazzo to Apollo Global Management in 2021, the new owners ratified a deal with Culinary, marking a shift in union relations.
The feud has also escalated into the political arena. Station Casinos is owned by the Fertitta family, well-known for their support of Republican candidates. Conversely, the Culinary Union is predominantly Democratic, often backing left-leaning politicians.
Recently, former President Donald Trump held a rally at Red Rock, commending the Fertitta family as a “beautiful family.” In contrast, Culinary criticized both the rally and the Fertittas’ political contributions, particularly their alignment with Trump and Nevada's Republican Governor Joe Lombardo.
In a statement, the union questioned why Governor Lombardo would support Station Casinos and Trump’s economic policies instead of advocating for unionized workers who form the backbone of Nevada’s economy.
This ongoing conflict illustrates the complex intertwining of labor, politics, and the gaming industry in Nevada.
