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The Culinary and Bartenders unions say they and the owner of the Sahara have been working to help nearly 400 union members affected by today's closure of the property.
“It is truly painful to see the closure of the Sahara,” D. Taylor, Culinary Workers Union secretary-treasurer in Las Vegas, said in a statement. “The Sahara is the last of its kind on the Strip and the global recession took its toll on the property. We have many members who have worked at the Sahara for decades. Fortunately, SBE Entertainment worked with us to ensure the workers’ years of hard work are respected and honored.”
The union said SBE agreed to provide workers with severance pay based on their years of service -- including workers who were laid off within the last 12 months. Workers with 20 or more years at the company will receive $5,000. Workers with 15 to 20 years will receive $3,750.
Workers with less seniority will receive smaller payments, but even workers with less than a year of service will receive a severance check, the union said.
Through their union contracts, many Sahara workers have vested pensions that they will be able to draw in retirement. Their Culinary health insurance for they and their families will also continue for four months after the closure at no cost to the workers, the union said. After that the workers will be eligible for a low-cost, basic health plan through the Culinary Health Fund.
Sahara workers are also being directed to the Culinary Training Academy, a labor-management partnership founded by the union in 1993. The academy will provide free classes to refresh workers' job skills, provide new skills and help them secure new employment.
The academy will have an open house for Sahara workers on Tuesday.