Las Vegas Workers Sue MGM & Caesars Over Dangerous Working Practices

Las Vegas unions from the hospitality sector are suing both Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resort over dangerous working practices connected to COVID-19.

The unions who represent some 60,000 workers are from the Culinary Workers Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 and claim in the lawsuit filed on Monday that the Harrah’s Las Vegas and the Bellagio and Signature Condominiums, owned by Caesars and MGM have not sufficiently protected workers and their families from the spread of COVID-19.

In the lawsuit the unions state that both companies failed to inform workers if a colleague contracted COVID-19 and customers were only told to wear face masks after June 24 when the states governor ordered it.

In response a spokesperson from MGM said: “that the company has offered free testing to employees before they report to work and required it for those who exhibit symptoms or have been exposed to someone who has tested positive, among other measures.”

The unions involved have said that at present 19 of their members and their families have died due to the pandemic.

Many operators now in Las Vegas fear this could be the start of a larger lawsuit brought by workers in the state.