The ongoing conflict between Station Casinos and the Culinary Union in Las Vegas intensified this month as the issue reached the US Supreme Court.
On September 4, Chief Justice John Roberts rejected an emergency appeal from Station Casinos seeking to delay a federal appeals court ruling. This ruling mandates that Red Rock Casino Resort Spa in Summerlin comply with a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) directive and engage in good faith negotiations with the union following a contentious labor vote in late 2019. Roberts did not provide any rationale for his decision.
The NLRB determined that Red Rock had taken actions that hindered a fair union election, prompting the casino to file a lawsuit. Nonetheless, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld the NLRB's ruling last month. Following a denial for a rehearing request on August 6, the court also rejected Station's request for a stay on August 24 while seeking relief from the Supreme Court.
Although Red Rock could still ask the Supreme Court to review the case, it is currently obliged to follow the NLRB ruling, which includes recognizing the union and negotiating in good faith upon request, as well as posting notices of employee rights.
Station Casinos issued a statement asserting, "The NLRB decision overturned the clear vote of Red Rock team members rejecting the Culinary Union. The decision prevents any company from granting benefits to its employees if it is aware of union interest in unionizing the company’s employees and nullifies the Red Rock team members’ vote to be union-free, all because Station Casinos treated its team members too well."
The Culinary Union opted not to comment.
The disputes between Station and Culinary have ebbed and flowed over the years, marked by media exchanges, grievances filed with state regulators, and various legal battles. The 2019 election at Red Rock stands out as a pivotal moment in their ongoing saga.
On November 19, 2019, Station announced a major benefits overhaul for its 14,000 employees across ten properties. Just two days later, the Culinary Union, which represents workers at several other Station properties, sought to represent employees at Red Rock.
Red Rock staff subsequently voted against unionization on December 16, 2019, with a tally of 627 to 534. However, the NLRB and the appeals court concluded that Red Rock's actions compromised the fairness of the vote. The timing of the benefits enhancement rollout coinciding with the unionization petition has been a contentious part of the case ever since.
The District Court found that the benefits plan was implemented to deter union support, resulting in a ruling that ordered Red Rock to recognize and negotiate with the union pending further proceedings.
In the meantime, while Station has remained resolute against the Culinary Union, the latter has made significant advances in other areas. Today, the entire Las Vegas Strip is unionized. Recently, the Culinary Union utilized citywide strikes to secure new multi-year labor agreements with major operators like Wynn, Caesars, and MGM.
For years, Las Vegas Sands stood as another major non-union entity until the Venetian-Palazzo was sold to Apollo Global Management in 2021. The new owners quickly ratified the casino's first contract with the Culinary Union in 2024.
Over time, the feud has taken on a political tone. Station Casinos is controlled by the Fertitta family, known for their considerable contributions to Republican candidates. In contrast, the Culinary Union aligns more with Democratic ideals, endorsing left-leaning candidates.
Last month, former President Donald Trump made a surprise visit to Las Vegas to hold a rally at Red Rock, calling the Fertittas a "beautiful family." The Culinary Union criticized the event and Slammed both the Fertittas’ ties to Trump and their support for Republican Governor Joe Lombardo. "As Lombardo runs for re-election in a state built and run by unionized hospitality workers, Culinary Union is demanding to know why the governor stands with Station Casinos and Trump’s harmful economic agenda instead of fighting and delivering for the working people who power Nevada's economy," the union declared in a statement.
