Restaurant workers at Citizens Kitchen & Bar in Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay casino have voted to unionize, with 82% of approximately 130 employees choosing to join the Culinary Union. The December 5 vote was supervised by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

The unionized workforce includes cooks, servers, bartenders, dishwashers, and hosts. Raymundo Lopez, a cook at Citizens, supported the union vote to secure health insurance for his family, including his pregnant wife.

This unionization follows similar successful efforts at other Las Vegas Strip establishments in 2024, including:

• Eataly at Park MGM
• Brooklyn Bowl
• Gordon Ramsey Fish & Chips at the Linq Promenade
• Café Belle at Paris Casino
• Starbucks at the Flamingo Casino

Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer of the Culinary Union, emphasized their commitment to organizing hospitality workers across the Las Vegas Strip, focusing on fair wages, job security, and union benefits.

In related news, the Culinary Union reached a tentative agreement with Fontainebleau Las Vegas after 18 hours of negotiation. The agreement, pending worker approval, would cover approximately 3,300 employees.

Meanwhile, a strike continues at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas since November 15, with workers seeking improved wages and working conditions. Virgin Hotels claims the union is bargaining in bad faith and hasn't brought their latest offer to members for a formal vote.

Citizens Kitchen & Bar is owned by SBE Entertainment Group and operates within MGM Resorts' Mandalay Bay property.

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