Culinary Workers Union 226 has rescinded its support from all current members of Congress who voted in favor of the 2023 Resort Assistance Act, which would remove requirements imposed on the casino industry by the pandemic, including daily cleaning of hotel rooms.
Tuesday's announcement means the union has decided not to support 18 Democrats running in 2024, including Senate Majority Whip Nicole Cannizzaro, who it had previously supported in 2022. They include General Secretary (D-Las Vegas) and House Speaker Steve Yeager (D-Las Vegas). .
So far, aside from backing challengers to a handful of incumbents, this is a tie between the Legislative Democratic Party and the union widely considered to be one of the most politically powerful in Nevada. The union is credited with helping national and state Democrats win contentious races, marking the most public division yet between the two parties. In past election cycles, through extensive propaganda and political operations,
“In the 2023 Nevada Legislature, many state House Democrats joined all Republicans in voting to eliminate daily room cleaning,” the press release states. “SB441 was signed by Governor Lombardo and has hurt flight attendants and our jobs.”
In a press release, the union added that it would “re-evaluate all support ahead of the November general election”.
The union also represents a variety of competitive Democratic candidates, including Reno state Rep. Naomi Duer, who is running against caucus-backed Rep. Angie Taylor (D-Reno) in Northern Nevada's 15th Senate District. It also supports candidates who compete with candidates supported by the Congressional Caucus in the primaries. – Endorsed U.S. Rep. Shannon Bilbray Axelrod (D-Las Vegas), who is running for a seat on the Clark County Commission.
The bill in question, SB 441, received the support of all Republicans, 10 Senate Democrats, and 19 House Democrats in the Democratic-controlled Legislature, despite vehement opposition from the Culinary Union, which said it would give DAI leeway. passed both houses of Congress. He said cleaning was “standard practice” in Las Vegas before the pandemic and that it is “good policy.”
“Protecting daily room cleaning means protecting our workers, protecting Las Vegas' image, and protecting our hotel guests,” Secretary of State and Treasurer Ted Papageorge told Congress.
Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo signed the bill into law in mid-May, but many of the union's recent contracts with Nevada's major casinos contain provisions similar to language repealed by SB 441. .
Tuesday's list of supporters and non-supporters included a primary candidate against Sen. Rochelle Nguyen (D-Las Vegas), a nurse and daughter of a former union leader, because of her cooperation with the proposal. This follows the union's announcement in March that it would support Gioconda Hughes. invoice.
Despite Culinary's endorsement of another candidate, the Las Vegas Other unions, including local chapters, also support Nguyen.
said CCEA Executive Director John Berardita. nevada independent In early May, Culinary said its decision to field a primary challenger was based on its belief that unions are a “political force in decline.”
“The Cuisine Party didn't get what it wanted in the last Congress, so it's going after the leadership of the majority leader,” he said at the time.
Representatives from the Democratic caucuses in both the House and Senate did not respond to requests for comment.