The Culinary Workers Union Local 226 transformed Las Vegas service jobs from dead-end positions into middle-class careers. With 60,000 members, it remains one of the most powerful labor organizations in American hospitality.

Origins in the Depression

Local 226 was chartered in 1935, organizing workers in the small casinos and restaurants of pre-Strip Las Vegas. The union grew alongside the city, establishing a presence in each new property as the Strip expanded northward.

The Mob Era Paradox

Ironically, mob-owned casinos were often good union employers. Mob bosses wanted labor peace—strikes disrupted the skim. This created unusually strong contracts: healthcare, pensions, and wages that let housekeepers and cooks own homes and send children to college.

The Modern Powerhouse

Today's Culinary Union has evolved into a political force. Its members—predominantly immigrant women—canvass neighborhoods, register voters, and turn out for elections. Nevada's status as a swing state amplifies this influence, giving the union leverage far beyond typical labor organizations.

"A Culinary Union job in Las Vegas is still the American Dream—a path from poverty to the middle class without a college degree."— Geoconda Argüello-Kline, Secretary-Treasurer

The Healthcare Achievement

Perhaps the union's greatest achievement is its healthcare plan. Members pay no premiums and receive comprehensive coverage through the union's own clinics and facilities—benefits that have resisted decades of corporate attempts at erosion.