On the recordFebruary 28, 2011
I rise today to honor Tahis Castro, who is retiring after 17 years of serving Nevadans as an organizer for the Culinary Workers Union. Tahis came to Reno from Costa Rica in 1987. In 1994, she cofounded and organized Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Local 86, which represented over 900 culinary workers throughout Reno. Since that time, she has helped negotiate improvements in health care benefits, wages, job security, and training for thousands of working families in Nevada. Tahis has always been a dedicated and tireless promoter of justice, respect, and dignity for all workers. She has been instrumental in the growth of Local 86, which merged with Las Vegas' Culinary Workers Union Local 226 to represent a total of 60,000 workers in Nevada today. In addition, she has served on the executive board of the Nevada State AFL-CIO. Tahis has also been influential in representing Nevadans in the political sphere. In 2008, she was chosen as one of the State's five delegates to the Electoral College, and she has been instrumental in promoting voter participation among Nevada's Latino citizens. I am pleased to stand today to commend Tahis for all she has accomplished, and all she will continue to achieve. Along with the Culinary Workers Union, I congratulate Tahis for her concerted effort and her career of dedicated service.
