Red Rock Resorts Loses Bid to Derail Long-Running Station Casinos Labor Cases

Red Rock Resorts has lost a federal court bid to halt sprawling labor proceedings stemming from years of allegations the operator illegally sought to undermine unions at their Las Vegas properties.

U.S. District Judge Anne Traum last week dismissed a lawsuit brought by Red Rock Resorts, its Station Casinos brand, and numerous affiliated casino entities that challenged the constitutionality of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

The lawsuit was an attempt to stop two ongoing NLRB proceedings involving allegations of unfair labor practices across the Station Casinos group.

Rather than addressing those allegations in the suit, Red Rock argued that aspects of the NLRB itself were unconstitutional. Among other things, it claimed federal law makes it too difficult for the US president to remove NLRB board members and administrative judges, improperly limiting presidential authority.

Red Rock also argued the agency exercises an unconstitutional combination of powers because it can investigate and prosecute alleged labor violations while also playing a role in deciding those disputes.

Traum rejected the claims, finding Red Rock had failed to show that the NLRB’s structure had actually caused it harm. The judge noted that even if restrictions on removing NLRB officials were unconstitutional, that would not automatically invalidate decisions made by officials who were legally appointed.

The case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning Red Rock has an opportunity to amend its complaint and try again.

Years-Long Union Battle

Station Casinos’ battle with organized labor in Las Vegas dates back to 2018, when the NLRB launched the first of many proceedings arising from unfair-labor-practice complaints.

In 2021, the NLRB issued a complaint alleging Station used layoffs and other workforce changes during the COVID-19 pandemic to weaken union support.

The agency alleged Station selectively laid off, terminated, recalled, rehired, and transferred workers in ways designed to reduce union representation. It also accused the company of encouraging efforts to remove union representation at some properties and of rewarding employees who opposed unionization.

Station denied the allegations, accusing the NLRB of unfair and biased treatment.

In a separate dispute at Red Rock Casino Resort, employees voted 54% to 46% against union representation in 2019.

An NLRB administrative law judge later found Station had improperly influenced the vote by announcing enhanced employee benefits in the run-up to the election and threatening employees with the loss of those benefits if they voted for the union.

In 2024, the NLRB upheld findings that Red Rock had violated federal labor law and ordered the casino to recognize and bargain with the union, despite the election result.

Constitutional Challenge

Red Rock launched its constitutional challenge in October 2024 while the wider NLRB proceedings remained pending. The company initially sought an injunction that would have prevented the labor cases from continuing.

Traum rejected that request in September 2025, and Red Rock appealed. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the decision in April.

The case then returned to the Nevada federal court, where the NLRB and the Las Vegas union sought its dismissal.

Traum granted those requests September 23, leaving the underlying labor proceedings against Station Casinos intact while allowing Red Rock another opportunity to amend its constitutional claims.