Sahara employees to receive severance pay

16 May 2011

By Howard Stutz

Monday’s closing of the Sahara will put almost 400 employees, who are members of Culinary Local 226 and Bartenders Local 165, out of work.

The unions credited Sahara owners SBE Entertainment with softening the blow.

SBE is providing Sahara workers with severance pay based on years of service. Employees with 20 or more years at the Strip resort will receive $5,000. Workers with 15 to 20 years will receive $3,750. The amounts decrease based employment history. Even Sahara workers laid off within the last 12 months are still eligible for some severance pay.

Culinary Workers Union Secretary-Treasurer D. Taylor said the Sahara’s closing ends an era on the Strip.

“We have many members who have worked at the Sahara for decades,” Taylor said. “Fortunately, SBE worked with us to ensure the workers’ years of hard work are respected and honored.”

Displaced Sahara employees are being directed to the Culinary Training Academy, which is holding an open house for all Sahara workers on Tuesday.