The Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders' and Beverage Dispensers' Union Local 165 have been in contract negotiations since April 10 with Park Place and Harrah's, as well as two other principal casino owners here, MGM Mirage and Mandalay Resort Group. If the tentative agreements with Park Place and Harrah's are ratified, the unions say there will be "peaceful labor relations" at all properties owned by the two companies.

The unions are still working to reach agreements with MGM Mirage and Mandalay Resort Group, but members are prepared to strike if negotiations are not ironed out by the time the collective bargaining agreements expire on May 31. If the strike does occur, more than 40,000 Las Vegas hotel and casino workers may walk out.

The last citywide strike, which occurred in April 1984, involved approximately 18,000 employees and resulted in a significant drop in revenues for the affected Las Vegas casinos. Gaming revenues for that month plummeted 9.6% on the Strip and 10.5% Downtown.

This time around, the unions' demands center mainly on health care issues and the treatment of housekeepers. The negotiators for the hotel and casino employees have asked for a 65-cent increase per hour in health-care benefits for each employee, a two-year contract, better treatment of housekeepers and rights for laid-off workers.