The Mirage casino in Las Vegas closed on July 17 after over three and a half decades as one of the iconic properties on the Las Vegas Strip. It will be reborn as Hard Rock Las Vegas, but that won’t be for three years.
In the meantime, about 3,350 workers, including 140 who had been with The Mirage since the very first day it opened, were put out of work.
One of those workers has filed a complaint against their union, Culinary Local 226.
Key Highlights
- Ex-employee filed a complaint against Culinary Local 226 with the National Labor Relations Board.
- Workers allege the union was unresponsive to concerns about the severance package.
- Many employees were confused as to package options and details.
- The Mirage is being renovated and will reopen as Hard Rock Las Vegas in 2027.
Complaint Filed With National Labor Relations Board
The complaint, filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in August, has to do with the severance package agreed upon by the union and the lack of communication between the union and its members, even when members approached union leaders with questions and concerns.
Among the charges included in the complaint are: “refusing and (sic) accept the grievances of its bargaining unit employees concerning their status as employees and the closing of the Mirage Hotel and Casino for arbitrary, discriminatory or in bad faith.”
Workers Allege Union Didn’t Listen to Concerns
The severance agreement for Culinary Local 226 members – which includes positions like cooks, servers, and housekeepers – gave former employees $2,000 for every year worked.
Members had another option, as well: take less money for a spot on a priority hiring list. The Mirage gave non-union employees two weeks’ pay for every year worked up to a maximum of $20,000.
They kind of pushed everybody to choose option A because they said option B was a risk. They can’t guarantee your job, it’s risky, so just take option A and go on with your life.
– Melinda Rhodes, former Mirage Casino employee
The NLRB complaint contends that union members received a summary of the severance agreement over the winter, but they didn’t get the detailed breakdown for several months.
When members asked the union to meet this past summer to discuss concerns, they were met with silence.
“It wasn’t until after the fact that the majority of people became aware that it was full-time, part-time and all that,” Melinda Rhodes told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “We were very misled — also with the rehire.”
Service years were pro-rated for part-time employees. “I feel that we didn’t really understand what they were saying about these options,” another person said. “It’s like they knew this was coming down and the union went ahead with whatever worked out.”
Some former Mirage employees told the Review-Journal that the priority rehire option was confusing. People are worried that they will lose their place on the list if Hard Rock’s reopening takes more than three years.
“They kind of pushed everybody to choose option A because they said option B was a risk,” Rhodes added. “‘They can’t guarantee your job, it’s risky, so just take option A and go on with your life.’”
Mirage Becoming Hard Rock
The Mirage opened in 1989, marking the beginning of the mega casino resort boom on the Las Vegas Strip. Its famed volcano was a beloved attraction for both visitors and locals alike.
Inside, The Mirage boasted some of the best shows and attractions the Strip has ever seen: dolphin and tiger habits, a tropical forest display, the Siegfried & Roy magic show, and the wonderful Beatles Cirque du Soleil show, Love.
In December 2022, Hard Rock International acquired The Mirage’s operations from MGM Resorts International for $1.075 billion.
In the deal, MGM got to keep “The Mirage” brand and licensed it to Hard Rock to keep on the property for up to three years.
The Seminole Tribe of Florida, which owns Hard Rock International, became the first tribe to operate a casino on the Las Vegas Strip.
There was some thought given to a phased renovation of The Mirage as it becomes Hard Rock Las Vegas in order to keep portions of it open during construction, but Hard Rock eventually decided to shut the property down completely during the metamorphosis.
The highlight of the completely revamped property will be a 660-foot-tall, guitar-shaped hotel tower where the volcano once stood.
Sources
https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/mirage-worker-files-complaint-against-union-over-severance-package-3175889/
https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/mirages-non-union-workers-could-get-smaller-severance-when-resort-closes-3066492
