Nevada’s largest union, Culinary Workers Local 226, released a statement Thursday alleging that Sanders campaign staffers attempted and gained access to dining rooms in Las Vegas by posing as members of the union.
We can confirm multiple reports of Bernie Sanders’ campaign staffers attempting and gaining access to Employee Dining Rooms at Las Vegas Strip properties where over 57,000 members that we represent work.
We are disappointed and offended. It’s completely inappropriate for any campaign to attempt to mislead Culinary Union members, especially at their place of work.
The Culinary Union button that hundreds of thousands of union members have proudly worn to work every day represents 80 years of struggle and fighting for justice. We strongly condemn anyone falsifying their affiliation with the Culinary Union in order to gain access to properties and we will cooperate with casinos and hotels so that this matter is fully resolved.
The Culinary Union has not made an endorsement and is focused on a major citizenship and voter registration campaign while preparing for upcoming contract negotiations.
Sanders’ campaign manager, Jeff Weaver, told CNN, that staffers were wearing the union button, “in solidarity with people but they were also wearing Bernie paraphernalia.” Though Weaver maintains that to his understanding none of the staffers “ever misrepresented who they were.” He added, “That kind of conduct would not be condoned.”