The workers are members of Culinary Union Local 226 and have a long history of struggle organizing the hotel and casino industry in Las Vegas. It has been a bitter battle, including strikes in 1970, 1976, and 1984. The latter was for 67 days and saw hotel owners bring in strikebreakers as they tried to keep business flowing.

Since then the population of the city has grown from 550,000 to 1.5 million and there has been a sharp consolidation of companies that run the show in Las Vegas. Most casinos in 1984 were owned by individuals or partnerships. But today three companies--MGM Mirage, Park Place Entertainment, and Mandalay Resort Group--operate more than two-thirds of the estimated 73,000 hotel rooms in the city.

During the 1984 strike the hotel owners funded overtime for the Metropolitan Police Department, which arrested nearly 1,000 strikers and other union members during the walkout.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal described the scene at the arena where the vote was held: "The gatherings had the feel of political rallies, with many offering pro-union chants while others walked in small groups, discussing the split between union and industry negotiators.

'I really don't want to, but if we don't have a choice we have to strike,' said Paris bus person Juan Ayala.

"Shop stewards spoke in English, Spanish, and a mix of Asian languages through bullhorns, steering voters to the arena's doors.

"An estimated 9,000 housekeepers make up the largest share of the 45,000-member Culinary union, with 80 percent of the housekeepers coming from Latin America. The union represents about half of the Strip's workforce," the paper reported.

"Inside, employees sat in separate sections, the colors of the housekeepers' work uniforms creating clear geographic borders between the electric blue of the Rio, the pastel green of the Luxor, the burgundy of The Mirage, and the black of Ceasars Palace and Paris.

"The crowds were energized by rhythmic clapping, NBA-style music and a tape of ring announcer Michael Buffer's ubiquitous call to battle, 'Let's Get Ready to Rumble.'"

The local paper quoted worker after worker who explained the issues in the strike and their determination to stand up to the bosses.

The union is mainly seeking increased employer contributions to health insurance benefits, and little in the way of higher wages. Another central issue in the negotiations is the growing work load on housekeepers who say their work conditions have rapidly deteriorated. Hotels are increasing the size of rooms and number of amenities in them without a corresponding drop in how many rooms housekeepers are required to clean.

"It's a struggle for human decency," Paul Femia, a bartender, told the paper. "It's a statement of solidarity. This is about taking care of each other."

An article on the union's web site quotes Debra Jeffries, a cocktail server, who said union members "went on strike in 1984 to get good health insurance for our families, and we may have to do it again to protect what we won."

Adelia Hernandez, a housekeeper, said, "We're united, and we want them to respect us and the rights that each one of us has."  
 
 
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