Las Vegas Employees Could Go on Strike at Midnight

Thousands of Las Vegas hotel and restaurant workers could go on strike at midnight tonight, potentially closing a large portion of the Strip and costing companies up to $10 million a day in lost revenues.

The Culinary Union's contract expires at midnight tonight, and could see up to 50,000 workers walk off the job if their demands aren't met. Workers voted to approve a strike last week, with 99% voting in favor. The union is seeking higher wages, distress buttons for housecleaning groups that are victimized by vacationers, and training to help keep their jobs from being taken over by robots. Many jobs in Vegas such as bartenders can be automated, and the union is looking to ensure that current workers be trained to service those robots should they be brought on.

A strike would be devastating for Las Vegas, as the city's hockey team has reached the Stanley Cup Final in its first season of existence and the World Series of Poker is taking place beginning this week. Both events will draw in tens of thousands of visitors, and not having the staff in place to provide the services normally seen would be nothing short of a disaster.

Both sides of the union are meeting, and it's thought that an agreement will be reached sooner rather than later.

Casino Listings News will be keeping on this story and will update readers as we learn more.