The Culinary Workers Union Local 226 will hold rallies with three of the top
presidential candidates this week. Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton will
address a rally of hundreds of Culinary members on Thursday, August 9th.
Senator Barack Obama will rally with Culinary members on Friday, August
10th. Former Senator John Edwards will address an evening rally of Culinary
members on Friday, August 10th.

The rallies of members of the Culinary and Bartenders Unions will focus on
the status of negotiations of contracts covering over 30,000 union members.
No final settlement has been reached and temporary extension agreements have
been signed with eleven MGM Mirage properties as well as other casinos on
the Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas. Last week, the Culinary Union
announced that it has scheduled a strike authorization vote on September
12th for workers who are still working without new collective bargaining
agreements at that time. Members of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226
and Bartenders Union Local 165 will vote on September 12th to authorize the
union’s negotiating committee to call for strikes at casinos without new
contract settlements.

Contracts covering 50,000 Culinary members on the Las Vegas Strip and in
Downtown Las Vegas expired at midnight on May 31st. In June, the Culinary
Union reached a settlement with seven Harrah’s Corporation properties
covering over 15,000 workers. The ratified Harrah’s contract included the
largest wage and benefit increase in the history of the Culinary Union,
first-time language covering career ladders, and a job security package that
protects workers in the rapidly changing Las Vegas market.

The Culinary Workers Union Local 226 represents over 60,000 workers
including hotel and casino workers on the Las Vegas Strip and at Downtown
properties as well as workers at McCarran Airport, Valley Hospital, and at
industrial laundry plants throughout Las Vegas.

SCHEDULE (Events are open to credentialed press and members of the Culinary
and Bartenders Unions)

. Thursday, August 9th – 1 pm
Senator Hillary Clinton at Culinary Union Rally
1:00 pm Event, Press Set-Up Available at 11:30 am
Culinary Workers Union Local 226, Big Hall
1630 S. Commerce St., Las Vegas, NV

. Friday, August 10th – 10 am
Senator Barack Obama at Culinary Union Rally
10 am Event, Press Set-Up Available at 8 am
Culinary Workers Union Local 226, Big Hall
1630 S. Commerce St., Las Vegas, NV

. Friday, August 10th – 6 pm
Senator John Edwards at Culinary Union Rally
6 pm Event, Press Set-Up Available at 5 pm
Culinary Workers Union Local 226, Big Hall
1630 S. Commerce St., Las Vegas, NV