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Supreme Court Upholds Ruling Forcing Red Rock Casino to Negotiate With Culinary Union
Posted on: September 7, 2026, 10:28h.
Last updated on: September 8, 2026, 05:52h.
Key Points
- The Supreme Court denied Red Rock Casino’s emergency request to halt a ruling requiring it to recognize and bargain with the Culinary Union
- The dispute stems from NLRB findings that Station Casinos interfered with union organizing efforts and prevented a fair election at Red Rock
- Red Rock must now recognize the union, bargain in good faith, post employee-rights notices, and take steps to prevent future unfair labor practices
The United States Supreme Court has denied an emergency request from Red Rock Casino asking Chief Justice John Roberts to halt a lower court’s decision requiring the casino to comply with an order from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
Roberts denied the application Friday (Sept. 4), upholding the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit’s judgment that it recognize and bargain in good faith with the Culinary Union.
Roberts, who handles emergency applications for the D.C. Circuit, did not issue an accompanying opinion. The Supreme Court docket entry in Red Rock LLC v. National Labor Relations Board simply read: “Application denied by the Chief Justice.”
The largest casino union in Las Vegas has been at odds with Red Rock Resort and its parent company, Station Casinos, for many years.
The union has argued in court that Station Casinos has interfered with its unionizing efforts by posting anti-union messaging in break rooms and threatening workers who led organizing campaigns. The union also said Red Rock Casino announced pay increases right before its election to sway votes.
Station Casinos has denied interfering with the union, saying it already pays its employees above what Culinary members receive at other casinos throughout Las Vegas.
Yearslong Legal Saga
In 2022, the NLRB found that it would be unreasonable to think that a fair election could be conducted at a Station Casinos property because of the company’s interference. The independent federal agency’s investigation came after a union vote at Red Rock Casino came back against organizing.
Red Rock Casino attorneys said the union levied the interference allegations because they lost.
Upset at the loss, the union filed unfair labor practice charges and objections, principally claiming that Red Rock (through Station Casinos) unlawfully and objectionably influenced the outcome of the election by promising, granting, and announcing improved benefits before the vote. There was nothing extraordinary or unusual about Station Casinos’ decision to improve benefits for its 14,000 employees across ten properties, nine of which were not Red Rock,” the application read.
The NLRB disagreed, and the DC Circuit Court ordered Red Rock Casino to recognize the Culinary Union and allow it to conduct a fair election. The casino has repeatedly appealed, with the full DC Circuit in August 2026 denying Red Rock’s petition for a rehearing.
Red Rock Casino Directives
With Chief Justice Roberts rejecting the emergency stay, Red Rock has exhausted its procedural delays and must immediately enter negotiations with the Culinary Union.
Under federal directives, the casino is required to recognize and bargain with the union in good faith while immediately ceasing all unfair labor practices and anti-union interference.
Additionally, property management must post official notices in employee areas detailing federal worker rights and implement concrete remedial measures to guarantee future compliance with federal labor law.
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