Latest news with #CulinaryUnion
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nevada unions, elected officials rally in support of ICE protests
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Amid the triple-degree heat, Las Vegas union members, workers and elected officials rallied in protest of escalating action from federal immigration agents—wary Nevada could be next. The afternoon rally was called together by Nevada's SEIU Local 1107 in solidarity with their California chapter following the arrest of SEIU president David Huerta. Federal authorities arrested Huerta for interfering with law enforcement operations during an anti-ICE protest. 'He was out exercising his constitutional rights, and they arrested him,' Erika Watanabe, a SEUI local 1107 member, said. 'They injured him, then arrested him, and then detained him.' Huerta was released Monday afternoon according to CBS News and is set to appear in court for initial appearance on one felony charge. The Las Vegas rally of over a hundred people at the steps of the Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse featured speakers from ACLU-Nevada, Nevada Immigration Coalition, NAACP, Culinary Union, the office of Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, and Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom. 'If Trump wants to bring the National Guard into Las Vegas, he's going to destroy our economy forever,' Segerblom said. 'Because we're not going to just let the National Guard do anything. We're going to fight the National Guard.' Segerblom continued to express concerns about the possibility of National Guard troops becoming active in Nevada. 'Without undocumented workers, this town would shut down and if [Trump] wants to dare to bring the National Guard in here, or, even better, the Marines, this town is going to blow up,' he said. The Trump administration's efforts in California received some praise but mostly significant pushback. Tedd Pappageorge, the Culinary Union Secretary Treasurer responded to claims the federal government is responding to people simply breaking the law. 'No, it's actually not as simple as that,' he said. 'What's really going on is we have folks that have been here for five years, 10 years, 15 years, 20 years. They're parts of the community. They go to our churches, their kids go to our schools, and they power this economy.' The Culinary Union cited additional concerns with alleged escalating ICE raids in Nevada pointing to the Nevada Immigration Coalition's post of 12 raids over the Easter weekend. 'What we know is that at the end of the day, the idea that these ICE agents are going to go to schools and churches and workplaces and take folks out that are otherwise law abiding,' Pappageorge said. 'Nobody voted for that. Everybody agrees there needs to be a secure border, and everybody agrees that violent criminals should be deported. But this is the United States of America. There has been due process.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hundreds gather for May Day demonstration on Las Vegas Strip, push back against Trump immigration policies
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Hundreds gathered on the Las Vegas Strip Thursday to push back against President Trump's immigration protest in front of the Paris Hotel & Casino was one of many that took place across the country on May known as International Workers' Day, May Day was first established in 1889, highlighting the massive labor movement in the U.S., leading to an 8-hour workday.'When you attack immigrant workers,' Culinary Union member Francisco Rufino Parra said. 'You are attacking our union.'Chants demanded change as the Culinary Union and its members pounded the pavement to protest the Trump Administration's immigration policies.'I've seen people get deported with no due process,' Parra said. 'No due process, and that's not correct.'Culinary Union President Diana Valles spoke with 8 News Now on efforts to help immigrant workers in Southern Nevada, which she said are 'under attack.''For years, we have fought to have protections for members who have permission to work and be here to be in this country,' Valles said. 'And protection when these papers are not in place, so they can wait for their job as they fix their situation.'Meanwhile, President Trump marked 100 days in office this week.'What the world has witnessed in the past 14 weeks is a revolution of common sense,' Trump said at a rally in Michigan. 'That's all it is, really.'The president touted his mass deportation efforts and defense of the United States border with 'Border Czar' Tom Homan also spoke on recent immigration actions at the White House this week.'If you choose to have a U.S. citizen child knowing you're in this country illegally,' Homan said. 'You put yourself in that position.'However, those who attended Thursday's rally in Las Vegas told 8 News Now they hope these protests send the message that they want their voices heard.'Hopefully, we get this message out across the United States,' Sebastian Espinoza concluded. 'And especially to our president.'The rally remained peaceful with several Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officers May Day protests in cities like Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C. took aim at both the Trump Administration's immigration and economic policies. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Labor secretary skips culinary union meeting
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is slated to speak at this year's Teamsters Unity conference on Tuesday in Las Vegas — but during a Monday listening-tour swing through Nevada, she skipped over the largest union in the state. The Culinary Workers Union and its 60,000-strong membership has historically been a Democratic powerhouse, but it hailed President Donald Trump's campaign pledge to eliminate taxes on tips. And as union spokesperson Bethany Khan told Semafor: 'The Culinary Union would have taken a meeting if requested' during Chavez-DeRemer's tour. Khan said the organization hasn't heard from anyone at the Labor Department. Chavez-DeRemer's choice to skip meeting with the Culinary Union comes as congressional Republicans air some skepticism about their ability to add Trump's new tax pledges — he's called for eliminating taxes on Social Security and overtime as well as tips — to the already-high cost of extending his 2017 tax cuts. A spokesperson for the labor secretary said Chavez-DeRemer 'is enjoying hearing from unions, workers, and employers alike during her America at Work listening tour, and she welcomes the opportunity to engage with unions as the tour continues.' Her stops on Monday included a tour of the Aviation Institute of Maintenance's facilities and a roundtable with the Nevada Hispanic Business Group as part of an effort to 'hear more about the challenges and opportunities facing everyday Americans at work.' Last week, Chavez-DeRemer joined union leaders of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in Pennsylvania with Rep. Rob Bresnahan, R-Pa.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Las Vegas Bill Could Transform Your Next Casino Stay
New legislation may soon bring back daily housekeeping at Las Vegas hotels under a new bill being considered by Nevada lawmakers. The bill was introduced by Assemblywoman Sarah Peters (D-Reno) who claims it will restore hotel service standards that guests once expected. Peters also believes it could help bring back thousands of housekeeping jobs lost during the pandemic COVID-19 caused many Las Vegas hotels to cut costs and minimize contact within many properties, which led to a change where rooms are cleaned only upon request. Many guests, often unaware of the change, returned to their rooms surprised to find beds unmade and towels unchanged unless they specifically asked otherwise The Culinary Union which actively supported the original housekeeping mandate during the pandemic, backs the new legislation. Culinary Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge stated in a news release: 'Culinary Union fully supports the health and safety of guest room attendants in Nevada and applauds Senator Rogich for introducing SB360 in the Nevada Legislature.' Already battling higher costs, many Vegas hotel operators have voiced their concerns, arguing that mandatory daily cleaning could further impact their budgets. Some even claim that guests now prefer the privacy that comes with less frequent housekeeping interruptions. Industry experts, however, argue that cleanliness is still highly important for Las Vegas hotels, as daily housekeeping could bring back once-lost guests who value comfort and luxury. The bill is currently awaiting legislative hearings. If passed, it could set a new standard for housekeeping across Las Vegas hotels—and potentially beyond. For now, guests should double-check their hotel's cleaning policies before booking. But if the bill becomes law, waking up to unmade beds in Vegas might soon be a thing of the past. Read the original article on GEEKSPIN. Affiliate links on GEEKSPIN may earn us and our partners a commission.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Las Vegas hotel rooms would be cleaned daily under proposed Nevada law
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The Hotel Safety Act, legislation with roots in health policies that morphed during the COVID-19 pandemic, was introduced on Monday at the Nevada Legislature. It already has the Culinary Union's endorsement. Senate Bill 360 (SB360) would require daily room cleaning at hotels in Clark and Washoe counties, setting the policy in state law after the union fought resorts that saw it as an opportunity to reduce jobs coming out of the pandemic. When COVID-19 hit Las Vegas — five years ago this month — daily room cleaning became a requirement as hotels tried to assure customers that they were safe here. In 2023, the virus had weakened and wasn't taking a great toll on people who were otherwise healthy. The policy changed, and the union campaigned hard for hotels to continue the practice that SB360 would make state law. Republican State Sen. Lori Rogich introduced the bill on Monday. 'Culinary Union fully supports the health and safety of guest room attendants in Nevada and applauds Senator Rogich for introducing SB360 in the Nevada Legislature,' Culinary Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge said in a news release. Proposal raises penalties for crimes at Las Vegas Strip, Nevada resorts Democrats controlled the majority in the Nevada Senate and Assembly when the requirement for daily cleaning ended. They still do. The powerful union abandoned Democrats they had supported at the time, withdrawing their endorsements. The bill also provides the authority for room inspections whether the customer wants it or not. The inspections are authorized 'not less than every second consecutive day during a guest's occupancy to ensure the safety of the guest and the public.' SB360 protects hotel workers from retaliation over room inspections and what might come from what they report. The legislation would apply to a 'resort hotel,' which is defined in state law. The bill further specifies that it applies to any hotel with 'more than 200 guest rooms or suites of guest rooms.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
