As unionization fights play out in hospitality businesses nationally, the Culinary Union has a unique position as one of the most powerful political forces in the state. The Nevada Culinary Workers’ Union held a press conference on Tuesday, March 29, in support of the 76 plaintiffs on the lawsuit, even though they are non-union workers not represented by the union. According to the lawsuit, Station Casino held job fairs to fill open jobs rather than first offering them to former employees, per the Right to Return law. The company is being accused of failing to comply with SB386, which requires that employer offer former employees their previous jobs, or give them the opportunity to take a similar job when possible. Station Casinos is Nevada’s third-largest employer, operating nine casinos in Vegas including Red Rock Resort, Green Valley Ranch, and Palace Station, which plays host to the beloved 24-hour Oyster Bar. The bill was intended to protect the overwhelming majority of hospitality workers that lost jobs during the pandemic. The law, also called SB386, was signed into law last June in an attempt to ensure that casino, hospitality, stadium, and other tourism-related workers would be able to return to the positions they held before the pandemic.
A lawsuit filed this week by 76 former employees alleges that Station Casino violated Nevada’s Right to Return Law.
