Facing a union-imposed deadline to reach a contract agreement, employees and management of two downtown Las Vegas hotels yesterday announced a tentative settlement.

The Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 reached a tentative agreement with Boyd Gaming Corp., which operates the Main Street Station and Fremont Hotel and Casino.

Both hotels, along with Boyd's other downtown hotel, the California, are popular destinations of Hawai'i residents.

The two unions represent about 900 workers at the Main Street and Fremont. The California is a nonunion shop.

A ratification vote on the settlement is set for Saturday.

The two unions last week set a deadline of yesterday to reach contract agreements at the El Cortez, Fitzgerald's, Four Queens, Las Vegas Club, Plaza, as well as the Fremont and Main Street — all downtown Las Vegas properties.

A similar deadline has been set for tomorrow at the Golden Nugget, another downtown property.

Unionized employees have been working on a contract extension since June, and last month they voted to authorize the unions to call for a strike should talks stall. About 7,000 workers at 10 downtown properties, the Strip's Tropicana hotel and two industrial laundries are still without a contract.

The culinary union did not indicate what actions would be taken if the deadlines to reach a contract agreement are not met. The unions are required to give a seven-day strike notice.