Latest news with #Aramark
CBS News
3 hours ago
- Business
- CBS News
Fenway Park workers' union says strike is imminent, asks Boston Red Sox fans not to buy food or drinks
The union representing Aramark workers at Fenway Park and MGM Music Hall in Boston is giving the company two days to settle a new contract before they go on strike. The bargaining committee for UNITE HERE Local 26 said Aramark has until noon on Friday, July 25. The strike would last three days, during a homestand the Boston Red Sox have with the Los Angeles Dodgers. If a strike happens, the union is asking fans to support striking workers by not buying food or drink at Fenway. Workers are fighting for standard, city-wide wages and guardrails on automation. Carlos Aramayo, the president of UNITE HERE Local 26, said people who do similar work at nearby Boston University or Simmons University are making at least $10 more. He said they've been bargaining with Fenway Park and Aramark for six months. "There are major issues at stake here. Folks at the park are paid poverty wages, many who start at the park have to make minimum wage to work their way up to 18 dollars and change. That is not acceptable at America's Ballpark," said Aramayo. Another issue is replacing staff with automated machines that Aramayo said is taking jobs away from workers and claims makes Fenway less safe. "Making alcohol potentially available to minors, making alcohol potentially available to folks that are going to be overserved," said Aramayo. "There used to be four beer sellers at one particular stand, now there is one person watching over four of these machines. So there you lose three people who once had a job that once earned wages, that once received gratuity now receive nothing," said Charbel Salambh, who's worked as a beer seller at Fenway for 28 years. ""Every company, everywhere you walk into, grocery stores, supermarkets, Target, Walmart. They're all doing self-checkout and it just takes away jobs anywhere." Amanda Savage, a stand worker at Fenway for the past 18 years, said she's earning half as much as she did because people aren't tipping with the automated machines. "We would prefer a contract that our untipped workers can live on, we would prefer a contract that doesn't replace me with a machine. I have worked here since high school, I am also a fourth grade teacher, I stay at Fenway because I love it." She added many of the workers at Fenway also work second jobs. Aramayo is asking Red Sox fans who attend the Dodgers series this weekend to not purchase any concessions as a show of solidarity. "We are the soul of Fenway Park. When people come to Boston, when people go to Fenway, they come not just to see a great ballgame, they come for the cultural experience. They come to experience what is the truth of Boston," said Aramayo. Laura Crystal, a stand worker at Fenway who's also working a second job as a teacher, agreed. "You come here for an experience. You're not just coming to Fenway Park to watch a baseball game. You're coming here because it's cool, it's exciting, it's a landmark, it's historical. There's a huge legacy to Fenway Park and we strongly feel that we're part of that and that we provide that hospitality that makes that experience elevated. So when you remove us, you really do remove the soul of the park," said Crystal. In a statement sent to WBZ-TV, Aramark said, "In the event of a strike, we have contingency plans in place to ensure that fans will not encounter service interruptions. We will continue to work with the union to try to reach an agreement."
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Fenway Park Workers Give Aramark 48-Hour Strike Deadline
Concession workers at Fenway Park could walk off the job during the Boston Red Sox's upcoming series against the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Unite Here Local 26 has given food and beverage provider Aramark until 12 p.m. ET on Friday to offer the stadium's hospitality staffers a new contract. Should Aramark miss the deadline, the unionized workers will walk off the job during the three-game set this weekend. More from Buster Posey Bet Big on Rafael Devers. It's Been a Slow Start. Fenway Park Workers Fret Over Aramark's AI-Powered Concessions Fenway Park Concession Workers Approve Strike in 113-Year First The union, which represents concession employees at the stadium as well as other hospitality workers throughout Boston, on June 15 authorized a strike that could be called at any point during the MLB season. At the time, Aramark said it had contingency plans in place should the normal staffers walk off the job. The Red Sox forwarded a request for comment to Aramark, which said it intends 'to keep working with the union toward a settlement that works for everyone. In the event of a strike, we have contingency plans in place to ensure that services are not interrupted.' The most recent bargaining talks took place last Tuesday, though the two sides remain far apart on key issues. In addition to a desire for higher wages, one of the biggest worries for Local 26 is the use of self-service machines that Aramark implemented at Fenway back in 2023. Aramark installed six machines created by Mashgin—two self-checkout units that dispense beer and four self-checkout popcorn stations. Employees are concerned that the machines could make them expendable by minimizing the human interaction they say adds to the experience of making Fenway 'America's most beloved ballpark.' Mashgin's machines are deployed at 20 of the 30 MLB ballparks in addition to at least 120 more sports venues, at least 100 hospitals and more than 3,000 convenience stores. In April, the company said that during the 2024 season, it 'delivered a median transaction time of under 15 seconds across over 3.6 million transactions and $88 million in concession sales.' In a union Zoom call with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) last week, the former presidential candidate highlighted that interaction when talking about a visit to Fenway last year when the Red Sox were taking on the Dodgers. He followed up that Zoom invite with a scathing letter to Aramark CEO John J. Zillmer and Red Sox owner John Henry, calling out the valuations of both the company and team and expressing concern over the AI-powered self-checkout units. 'If Aramark can afford to pay you $18.7 million in compensation and provide nearly $100 million in dividends for your wealthy shareholders,' the senator wrote to Zillmer, 'it can afford to pay all of your workers a living wage and not threaten to take away their jobs and their income with faceless Mashgin touchscreen computers.' Sanders cited the team's valuation, saying that it has gone up by over $4 billion since Henry bought the team in 2002 for $380 million. The Red Sox rank third in Sportico's MLB franchise valuations at $6.03 billion, with a $5.22 billion valuation for the team itself and $810 million for team-related business and real estate, including Fenway Park. Local 26 also appealed to Henry in an open letter emailed to Fenway Sports Group, the Red Sox's holding company, on Tuesday evening, asking for him and leadership at FSG to intervene. 'Mr. Henry, Fenway Park is your house,' the letter said. 'We're asking you … to intervene. We're asking you to tell Aramark to bring reasonable proposals to the table that recognize our value and our role in making Fenway thrive.' Because concession work at Fenway is seasonal, the union said a sustained indefinite strike would have presented too many obstacles for members who are part-time workers at the ballpark. There are no definitive dates for the next potential strike if union members are off for the full Dodgers series. The Red Sox have a scheduled off day on Thursday before the Dodgers series opens on Friday. The team will be on the road for a three-game set in Minnesota before opening the month of August with a six-game homestand against Houston and Kansas City. Best of Tennis Prize Money Tracker: Which Player Has Earned the Most in 2025? Browns Officially Get Public Money for New Stadium in Ohio Budget WNBA Franchise Valuations Ranking List: From Golden State to Atlanta
Boston Globe
8 hours ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Fenway workers make plea to John Henry as strike looms
Nearly 50 union members signed the letter to Henry, who owns Fenway Sports Group and the MGM Music Hall, which is near Fenway Park and would be affected by a strike. Henry also owns the Boston Globe. Advertisement He has yet to comment on the workers' threats to strike. 'We want to keep working. We want to avoid a work stoppage,' the letter said. ' But we can't continue to be ignored while struggling to afford rent, groceries and childcare. 'With just a modest adjustment to what Aramark already pays elsewhere, we could have sustainable, livable wages — and continue doing the jobs we love, in the ballpark we're proud to serve.' The letter also mentioned Aramark's decision to install AI-powered self-checkout alcohol kiosks throughout Fenway Park. 'Mr. Henry, Fenway Park is your house,' the letter reads. 'We're asking you to tell Aramark to bring reasonable proposals to the table that recognize our value and ourrole in making Fenway thrive.' Advertisement The Fenway Group could not immediately be reached for comment. Yogev Toby can be reached at
Associated Press
9 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
24/7 Market News: VENU Closing Its RegA Preferred Stock Offering, as CEO Roth Invests $5 Million in Company
Move Eliminates Ceiling and follows ~$200M Non-Dilutive Commitment from Texas Capital Securities Denver, Colorado--(Newsfile Corp. - July 23, 2025) - a pioneer in digital media dedicated to the swift distribution of financial market news and corporate information, reports that Venu Holding Corporation (NYSE American: VENU) ('Venu'), an upscale live music and premium hospitality venue developer-operator, will close its Regulation A Preferred Stock Offering Friday, July 25, 2025. Final investments will be accepted through end-of-day Thursday, July 24. During the offering, the $15 preferred-share reference point likely acted as an artificial ceiling. In a recent independent analyst report, Cenorium AG set a $22.30 price target on VENU, citing its 'compelling business model,' rapid expansion strategy, and revenue growth from $17.8 million in 2024 to a goal of over $600 million by 2029. The report also noted: 'Venu is redefining how live entertainment is experienced in targeted U.S. markets,' emphasizing VENU's vertically integrated entertainment campuses, recurring revenue streams, and major-market partnerships with AEG Presents and Aramark (the latter invested $10.25 million at a premium). It pointed to catalysts like amphitheater completions in McKinney, El Paso, and Broken Arrow, and projected a shift to positive EBITDA by 2026 and net profitability in 2027. Venu's most recent quarterly report shows 37.52 million shares outstanding and the float at 4.04 million shares. However, Venu was set to be added to the broad-market Russell 3000 Index at the conclusion of the recent annual reconstitution, but its shares were deemed to be too tightly held. Additionally, recent NYSE data show 266,612 shares short, equivalent to about 8 days to cover. VENU More than Replaces Reg A Simultaneously, VENU has announced several non-dilutive moves, including that its Founder, Chairman & CEO, J.W. Roth, personally invested $5 million in the Company's premium Luxe FireSuites, located at its amphitheaters in McKinney and El Paso, Texas. 'Over the years, as an entrepreneur, businessman and a seasoned family office investor, I've learned to pay close attention to opportunity. Because of this, I have decided to personally purchase $5 million of our Luxe FireSuites through my family office,' commented Roth. 'Over the course of the next year, I intend to increase my investment to $20 million in additional Luxe FireSuites,' commented Roth. Luxe FireSuites have driven remarkable growth, sales surged 250% year-over-year, from $22.2 million in 2023 to $77.7 million in 2024 and already on pace to deliver $300 million in 2025, when combined with VENU's new NNN structured offerings, underlining the appeal and the resiliency of VENU's business model. In addition to Roth's investment in Venu, the Company announced that it retained Texas Capital Securities as its exclusive financial advisor to arrange approximately $200 million in non-dilutive private debt commitments, which will be used to accelerate construction and support infrastructure buildout, all without equity dilution. This non-dilutive financing initiative aligns with Venu's aggressive expansion strategy, targeting the addition of two facilities per quarter and a goal of 20 venues with 250,000 total seats by 2028. Please click here to read Cenorium's full Venu analyst report on For the full 24/7 Market News VENU report and in-depth insights, visit: Read 24/7 Market News VENU Report/. Contact [email protected] for Analyst Report coverage and other investor/public relations services. [ This image cannot be displayed. Please visit the source: ] Venu Holding Corporation (NYSE American: VENU) 24/7 MARKET NEWS, INC Disclaimer Please go to for additional VENU disclosure or for disclaimer information. CONTACT: 24/7 Market News [email protected] Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Such statements include statements regarding the Company's ability to grow its business and other statements that are not historical facts, including statements which may be accompanied by the words 'intends,' 'may,' 'will,' 'plans,' 'expects,' 'anticipates,' 'projects,' 'predicts,' 'estimates,' 'aims,' 'believes,' 'hopes,' 'potential' or similar words. Actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including without limitation, the Company's ability to continue as a going concern, the popularity and/or competitive success of the Company's acquired football and other sports teams, the Company's ability to attract players and staff for acquired clubs, unsuccessful acquisitions or other strategic transactions, the possibility of a decline in the popularity of football or other sports, the Company's ability to expand its fanbase, sponsors and commercial partners, general economic conditions, and other risk factors detailed in the Company's filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any responsibility to update such forward-looking statements except in accordance with applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit
CBS News
a day ago
- CBS News
Aramark employee at UI Health at large after shooting 2 people in Chicago home, UIC officials say
University of Illinois at Chicago officials issued a warning Tuesday about a food worker who is at large after shooting two people in a Chicago home Monday. Officials said an Aramark employee, identified as Glenn Rhymes, who works at UI Health got into an argument with a patient Monday morning. During that argument, UIC officials say Rhymes pulled out and brandished a gun, and made a threatening statement. Rhymes was taken into custody by UIC police and the gun was taken from him. UIC officials said the gun was not fired, and no one at UI Health was injured. UIC police released Rhymes from custody a short time later. UIC officials said later in the day, they learned that Rhymes allegedly shot two people in their home, one of whom was another Aramark employee who worked at UI Health. UIC said Chicago police are leading the investigation into that shooting. CBS News Chicago has reached out to CPD for more information but have not yet heard back. Tuesday UIC public safety officials alerted the campus to police activity at 1801 West Taylor Street. Officials said the activity was precautionary but related to the incident Monday. If you see Rhymes or have an information about his whereabouts, UIC officials are asking you contact university police at 312-355-5555 or contact Chicago police by calling 911.
