Las Vegas Hospitality Union Endorses Harris Despite Trump’s Pledge for Tax-Free Tips

Posted on: August 5, 2024, 08:19h. 

Last updated on: August 6, 2024, 11:55h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More

Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

The national labor union representing Las Vegas hospitality workers has come out in support of Vice President Kamala Harris for president. That isn’t exactly a surprise, as Unite Here hasn’t endorsed a Republican presidential candidate in decades.

The Culinary Workers Union Local 226 is the Las Vegas chapter of Unite Here. The union represents approximately 60K workers in Las Vegas and Reno employed in an array of careers such as housekeepers, cooks, bartenders, waitstaff, porters, bellmen, and laundry workers.

Gwen Mills, the president of Unite Here, said Monday the national union will again work to elect the Democratic candidate, who is expected to formally become Harris at the Democratic National Convention later this month in Chicago.

Our members cannot afford to go back to Donald Trump’s disastrous leadership,” Mills declared. “Another Trump presidency would mean four chaotic years of defending against his attacks on unions, working people, immigrants, women, and others.”

Mills, who was elected president in June to become the first woman to lead the union in its 130-year history, believes electing the first woman to the Oval Office is in the union membership’s best interests.  

With Kamala Harris as president, workers will continue to move forward, organize their workplaces, and secure good wages and benefits. She has consistently demonstrated her commitment to labor rights and social justice, ensuring that every worker has a fair shot at the American dream,” Mills opined.

Before President Joe Biden last month announced he wouldn’t seek a second term, Culinary in April said it was committed to reelecting the president. Along with Nevada, local chapters of Unite Here represent casino workers in several other major gaming markets, including Atlantic City.

Trump Appeal Falls Flat

During a Las Vegas campaign stop in June, Trump, a former casino magnate who employed thousands of gaming and hospitality workers, told the Southern Nevada community that he would remove federal taxes on tips if elected for a second four-year term. The billionaire told a crowd at Sunset Park that he would encourage Congress to pass laws amending the IRS’ rules to remove tips as taxable income.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there are 2.24 million tipped waiters across the country. Tips often account for a significant portion of their incomes.

To those hotel workers and people who get tips, you are going to be very happy, because when I get to office we are going to not charge taxes on tips, people making tips,” Trump said at the rally. “We’re going to do that right away, first thing in office.”

Many of the Las Vegas hospitality workers under the Unite Here umbrella rely heavily on tips. Having those funds be exempt from federal taxes would keep more money in their banking accounts, but Mills and Unite Here say Trump’s appeal amounted to a bluff.

Harris Support

Mills, in her endorsement of Harris, committed Unite Here members to knocking on over 3.3 million doors in battleground states to support the VP’s ascent to the presidency. Mills says the union is “renowned” for delivering on close elections in favor of the candidates it’s embraced.

On Polymarket, a decentralized peer-to-peer political betting exchange, Trump remains the front-runner. The former president’s stock is trading at 53 cents to Harris at 43 cents. The platform says $501M has been wagered on the 2024 presidential election outcome.