Las Vegas casino strike would have ripple effect

LAS VEGAS (AP) – What happens in Las Vegas could have a ripple effect across the country if 50,000 casino-hotel workers go on strike at any time starting June 1.

A potential strike of members of the Culinary Union could cost the destination millions and lead to travel woes for anyone taking a vacation or business trip to Sin City. It could also send casinos looking for temporary workers.

Twenty-five thousand unionized casino-hotel workers on Tuesday cast ballots to authorize a strike since individual casino-operating companies and the union have failed to reach agreements on new contracts.

The workers’ current contracts expire at midnight May 31.

The last citywide strike lasted 67 days and cost workers and the city more than $1 million a day each in lost wages and revenues, not counting gambling losses.