The Culinary Union has expressed support for tax relief aimed at working-class tip earners, as highlighted in a recent statement by Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge. The Reconciliation bill passed by Congress includes temporary tax relief for workers, contrasting with permanent tax cuts for billionaires and the wealthy. This development is accompanied by concerns over millions of Americans potentially losing access to healthcare and essential economic programs.
Nevada Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, along with Congressman Steven Horsford, attempted to propose amendments to make the tip tax credits permanent. However, these efforts were thwarted when Republicans declined to consider the amendments.
Pappageorge emphasized that the Culinary Union will keep a close watch on how the U.S. Treasury develops regulations related to this new tax policy, ensuring it serves working-class taxpayers as intended.
He further noted rising costs of groceries, gas, housing, and insurance premiums affecting working families. Pappageorge criticized the current administration for neglecting campaign promises of relief and instead focusing on policies that have led to reduced visitation to Las Vegas. This situation has caused instability among companies seeking workers and raised concerns about potential layoffs and an economic downturn reminiscent of a Trump-era recession.
Pappageorge concluded his statement by asserting that “working families deserve better.”
The Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 are Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE. They represent 60,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno across various sectors including casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. The union is also involved in providing healthcare through the Culinary Health Fund, which covers over 145,000 Nevadans.
With its diverse membership comprising primarily Latinx/Black/AAPI/immigrants from numerous countries speaking multiple languages, the union prides itself on its contributions towards helping immigrants become American citizens through initiatives like The Citizenship Project.
The Culinary Union remains committed to advocating for working families in Nevada as it has done for nearly nine decades.
