MGM workers OK five-year labor contract

Tuesday’s Culinary union ratification of a collective bargaining agreement with MGM Resorts International virtually ensures a summer free of labor strife for the Strip.

Union workers for MGM Resorts became the second major casino group to ratify a five-year deal after Caesars Entertainment Corp. workers overwhelmingly approved an agreement Thursday.

A spokeswoman for Culinary Local 226 said late Tuesday that 99 percent of the votes favored the contract.

She did not disclose how many votes were cast.

MGM Resorts’ new deal covers about 24,000 workers at the Aria, Bellagio, Circus Circus, Excalibur, Luxor, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay (including the Delano Las Vegas), The Mirage, New York-new York and Park MGM resorts.

The Caesars and MGM Resorts deals cover bartenders, guest room attendants, cocktail servers, food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks and kitchen workers at 18 of the 34 resorts in the Las Vegas Valley. A strike by workers had been authorized after a May vote.

The union is now negotiating contracts with companies that operate other properties on the Strip and in downtown Las Vegas, including the Westgate, Tropicana, Treasure Island, Golden Nugget and D Las Vegas.

The average worker on the Strip currently makes about $23 an hour, including benefits.