Las Vegas Casino Union Backs Call for ‘Right to Return’

As efforts to bring everything back to normal continue to ramp amid extended vaccination across the United States, pressure is beginning to mount on the authorities. The most recent development in this regard is a call by the Las Vegas casino union members to back legislation that seeks to secure their right to return to their jobs.

Nevada Senate Bill 386, the legislation in question, was introduced by the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee at the end of March and its goal is to push casinos and other entertainment businesses to rehire their workers. This includes those who were permanently laid off as well as those who may have been furloughed as a result of the restrictions that were put in place to mitigate the further spread of COVID-19. It will also cover workers across a wide range of businesses right from stadiums, casinos, and other hospitality or travel businesses.

First Priority

The goal of the ‘Right to Return’ bill is to ensure that those who lost their jobs due to the unfortunate turn of events do not get left out in the cold. Plans to reopen up businesses are already gaining momentum and getting the necessary labor will be very important to that progress. That said, its aim is not just to ensure that these workers get their jobs back but also that they are offered the first opportunities to resume their previous roles once the need for those particular roles arises.

“Knowing they will get their job back would at least give workers hope they will not become homeless or struggle to feed their families, which are fears too many Nevadans and their families are dealing with every day.”

Geoconda Argüello-Kline, the secretary-treasurer of the Culinary Union Local 226 organization.

A Few Concerns

Unsurprisingly, the call for a Right to Return has been met with some criticism. Many of the bill’s critics have pointed out concerns that seem to imply that the legislation is unnecessary. One of the most notable things that critics have pointed out is a caveat in the bill that would allow the employees to sue their former employees in case they feel that the “Right to Return” was violated.

This is not the first time that the Las Vegas casino operators and their workers have had to deal with issues relating to worker rights. This is a little different particularly because of some of the complexities that are involved. All eyes are however on what the casino operators will do to be in compliance with the bill which has a lot of potential to be signed into law.