LAS VEGAS » The Culinary Union has issued a written warning to Wall Street investors, saying a citywide strike by Las Vegas hotel workers is possible if contracts aren’t inked soon with two major companies.

The union, which represents some 50,000 bartenders, maids and food servers, has been in negotiations with gambling giants MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment Corp.

It says union workers are preparing for a "major labor dispute," and a strike is imminent unless solid contracts result soon from the negotiations.

MGM and Caesars officials say strike talks are premature and they expect to reach agreements with the union. The two companies operate some 20 Strip-area hotel-casinos.

The companies have signed extensions for contracts that expired June 1 while talks take place.

The last citywide strike occurred in 1984 when over 17,000 workers protested 32 Strip resorts.