Picketers plan to block Strip in front of Cosmopolitan

STEPHEN SYLVANIE / SPECIAL TO THE SUN

Members of Culinary Union 226 hold a sit-down protest in the southbound lanes of Las Vegas Boulevard in front of the Cosmopolitan, effectively closing down a section of the Strip on Wednesday evening, March 20, 2013. At around 6 p.m. Metro Police officers began arresting them and loading them onto a large bus to reopen the lanes.

Cosmopolitan Picket

Culinary Local 226 members picket outside of Cosmopolitan Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. Launch slideshow »

Thousands of Culinary Union members plan to picket outside the Cosmopolitan tonight, blocking two lanes of Las Vegas Boulevard.

Workers have scheduled the rally for 5 p.m. at the corner of Harmon Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard, marking the third major demonstration in six months, Culinary spokeswoman Yvanna Cancela said.

The demonstration is in response to ongoing negotiations at the Cosmopolitan, where 2,000 Culinary workers have been clocking in without a contract for two years.

The last one was March 20, when more than 2,000 Culinary workers picketed outside the Strip resort. About 100 more workers sat in the middle of Las Vegas Boulevard, blocked traffic and let Metro Police arrest them in solidarity with Cosmopolitan workers.

Cancela said picketers don’t plan to get arrested this time.

The Culinary, which represents more than 55,000 workers, also is in negotiations with MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment Corp.

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