LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Culinary Union workers say they are in it for the long haul as the strike at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas nears the two-week mark with workers pushing for a new five-year contract and better pay.
Debra Wilby is beyond frustrated over what she describes as “corporate greed.”
“We’ve talked with guests and people just walking by and they all seem to support us. It’s not fair what we are dealing with, with these corporate companies not doing right by their employees,” Wilby shared.
On Thursday, the strike escalated when a staged demonstration led to 57 culinary union members getting arrested and Virgin Hotels taking matters into their own hands by adding makeshift walls around the property to block the view of the strike from its guests.
In addition to playing loud music in an attempt to obstruct the outside noise from coming in.
“They tried to make it where they drowned us out, but they just made more noise and brought more attention to us,” server Alain Lopex said.
Cook, Rosemarie Mecca said even with the obstacles put in place by the hotel, she and her fellow co-workers refuse to back down.
“We’re still here and we got higher signs to go over their walls. We’ve resorted to being at the main entrances where they have to see us, instead of along the sidewalk,” Mecca said.
The Culinary Union shared that because of Virgin’s lack of staff right now, the hotel has resorted to hiring people from, “off the street” to do the jobs of these trained professionals. Paying them close to double what their full-time employees would typically make.
