Workers at an off-Strip hotel casino may be headed for a strike after two years of failed contract negotiations.
Members of Teamsters Local 986 in Rio voted to authorize a strike over unfair labor practices, according to a news release Monday night. The vote follows nearly two years of stalled negotiations with Dreamscape, the property’s owner and a subsidiary of Hyatt Resorts.
“Rio can afford to meet the demands of our members, but management refuses so they can put more money in their own pockets. That’s wrong, and the Teamsters won’t let them get away with it,” Local 986 President Tim Vera said in the release.
New York-based Dreamscape did not respond to a request for comment before publication.
The union said nearly 100 Rio Teamsters have been working under a contract that expired in April 2024. Members say they have filed multiple grievances against management for unfair working conditions as “frustration mounts over Rio’s refusal to bargain in good faith.”
With a packed calendar of upcoming events for Las Vegas that includes the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix (Nov. 20-22), the National Finals Rodeo (Dec. 4-13) and the weekends, Teamsters representatives said they hope Rio understands the urgency and resolves the issue quickly.
“It’s time for Rio to stop playing games and get serious at the bargaining table,” Jose Culin, a Rio front desk worker and member of Local 986, said in a statement. “We are proud of the work we do, but the way this company treats us is unacceptable.”
Dreamscape acquired the Rio from Caesars Entertainment in 2019 for $516.3 million, but did not take over operations of the property until October 2023. The company has reportedly spent nearly $300 million on renovations and upgrades at the off-Strip hotel-casino.
Contact David Danzis at ddanzis@ theplayerlounge.com or 702-383-0378. Follow @AC2Vegas_Danzis on X.
