[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 33 (Friday, February 18, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING GEOCONDA ARGUELLO-KLINE AS SHE RETIRES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. STEVEN HORSFORD

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 18, 2022

  Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Geoconda Arguello-
Kline, as she retires from the Culinary Workers Union Local 226. Mrs. 
Arguello-Kline leaves a positive impact on the lives of thousands of 
workers in Nevada.
  Mrs. Arguello-Kline's story begins in Managua, Nicaragua, where she 
was born and raised. In 1979, Mrs. Arguello-Kline was admitted to the 
United States as a political refugee. Since 1983, she calls Nevada her 
home. Picketing, negotiating, and asking for safe working conditions 
were some of the reasons Mrs. Arguello-Kline was relentless to give up 
the battle against the big corporations. As a guestroom attendant in 
1989, Mrs. Arguello-Kline stood outside of the Fitzgerald's Hotel (now 
The D Hotel & Casino) picketing daily for 6 months. That was only the 
beginning of many more similar scenarios to help workers stand up for 
their rights and benefits.
  In 1990, Mrs. Arguello-Kline joined the Culinary Workers Union Local 
226. Mrs. Arguello-Kline went from being an organizer in the 1990s, 
then director of campaigns, trainer, and many other responsibilities, 
until becoming the union's Secretary-Treasurer. Over the years, Mrs. 
Arguello-Kline's call to action remained the same and the voices only 
grew. An 18,000-membership expanded to 60,000 members under her 
leadership. The casino industry, at that point, had to hear them out. 
The culinary workers were not alone. Bartenders and housekeepers also 
demanded dignity in the workplace, medical benefits, retirement 
security and more.
  One of the many successes Mrs. Arguello-Kline led early on was the 
longest walkout in the history of the U.S. labor movement: the Frontier 
strike in 1991, where the Culinary Workers' pension fund was in 
jeopardy. After more than six years of picketing, their pension fund 
was restored.
  Mrs. Arguello-Kline has been a tremendous leader and a champion for 
workers in Nevada. We often saw her in the red t-shirt reminding folks 
of the power of each worker and the right to stand up for better 
working conditions. She retires after 32 years devoted to the Culinary 
Union and close to 40 years as a member. She is a hero in the labor 
community. I wish Geoconda Arguello-Kline a great retirement. We honor 
her arduous work and contributions to the Silver State.

                          ____________________