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CBS News
2 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Fans torn on what to do during Fenway Park concessions worker strike during Red Sox-Dodgers games
Fans were left torn on what to do about the Fenway Park concessions worker strike while attending the highly anticipated Boston Red Sox series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The strike began on Friday and is set to last through Sunday. Workers, represented by Unite Here Local 26, are calling on food supplier Aramark to give them better pay that reflects the wages around the city and at other ballparks. They are also asking for an end to replacing workers with self-checkout kiosks. "We just ask them to respect the picket line and get food and drinks somewhere else," said Madeline Rivera, a striking concession worker, as she stood alongside her colleagues, chanting for change. As fans entered the stadium for the second game of a weekend series between the Red Sox and the Dodgers, some fans chose to bring their own food to the game. "We fully agree with it," Margo Healey said. "Fenway makes a lot of money, and these people deserve to be paid right." Ken added, "Don't us charge ten bucks for a beer and then nickel and dime these poor guys." Despite the solidarity by some, fans like Dan Finn told WBZ-TV that avoiding purchases at the ballpark would be challenging. "It's such a long game, and people get thirsty and hungry. So, if I need something, I might have to unfortunately," Finn admitted. Replacement workers were sent to man the concessions stands at Fenway Park during the games. Amid the workers' absence, fans say they have noticed longer lines at concession stands. "I saw an ice cream line there was at least like 75 people in line," recalled Sandy Kershaw, a fan at Friday night's game. Patty Fox, another fan, added, "It was not like as many stations as there usually are." Carlos Aramayo, president of Unite Here Local 26, emphasized that the strike is not against the Red Sox or about inconveniencing fans, but rather the union's way of fighting for fair pay. "There is no way that at a ballpark like this, with an ownership group like the Red Sox, that has so much money that we should have people making poverty wages," Aramayo said. The Red Sox said on Friday that they are not a part of the negotiations, but are staying in touch with Aramark. Aramark issued a statement Friday saying, "We have bargained in good faith and are disappointed the union rejected our latest offer and chose to call a strike." Unless their demands are met, Aramayo says the union will once again hold the picket line Sunday afternoon, at the final game of this weekend's highly anticipated series "Our members are strong. They're going to be staying out until we get this done, until we get a really good contract," he said. Aramayo said that they haven't heard from Aramark since Friday and hopes they will come back to the bargaining table.
Yahoo
6 days 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
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Red Sox Concession Workers Strike in 113-Year Fenway Park First
Concession workers at Fenway Park announced a strike Sunday ahead of the Boston Red Sox's home game against the New York Yankees in the final game of a three-game series. After a three-day vote that concluded Sunday morning, 95% of the membership of Unite Here Local 26, the Boston chapter of the hospitality workers' union, voted to authorize a strike of more than 1,000 Aramark employees at Fenway and the adjacent MGM Music Hall. Advertisement More from It's the first time in the 113-year history of the ballpark that concession employees have walked off the job. The Red Sox forwarded a request for comment to Aramark, which has yet to respond. Employees have worked without a contract with Aramark since the end of 2024, and though the two sides have continued talks, the union said the sides aren't close on several issues, including wage increases, scheduling based on seniority and limits to the use of automation. The latter is a component that's become more concerning for employees. In a June 13 Boston Globe story, one Fenway concessions employee said her earnings have declined since Aramark added an AI-powered checkout machine that limited her interactions with fans and opportunities to earn tips. Advertisement 'The number of times that we've heard out loud, 'Who am I even tipping?' You know, people laugh about it,' Amanda Savage told the Globe. In a statement, Local 26 president Carlos Aramayo touted his chapter's success in negotiating wage increases for other hospitality workers in Boston. He said staffers at Fenway should earn the same. 'Local 26 hotel workers fought for and won $10 an hour raises last year, and Local 26 university dining workers will be making a minimum of $30 an hour by 2028,' Aramayo said. 'There's no reason for Fenway workers to be left behind. They deserve raises and respect.' The union claims that despite the rising costs of living in the Boston area, Fenway employees are paid $18.52 per hour compared with their peers in Miami, who the union said earn $21.25 an hour at the Marlins' loanDepot Park. The cost of living is 28% higher in Boston than Miami-Dade County, Fla., according to Nerd Wallet data. Advertisement The Red Sox, MLB's third-most valuable team at $6.03 billion, per Sportico valuations, rank 10th in average game attendance this season with 32,721 fans per game. The Marlins are 28th among all 30 teams in average game attendance at 11,648 fans. Both stadiums seat approximately 37,000 fans. Unite Here represents over 300,000 employees in the U.S. and Canada, with members employed throughout the food service, hotel, casino, laundry and warehouse industries. Last September, Local 274, which represents food and beverage workers for Philadelphia's three primary sports venues, went on strike against Aramark. Workers ended the strike four days later as the Phillies began their postseason run, but the two sides did not immediately sign a contract and maintained calls for fans to boycott of merchandise shops at Citizens Bank Park. Concessions returned to normal services, though, and the two sides eventually agreed to a new deal prior to the start of the 2025 MLB season. Aramark manages food services at stadiums, arenas, convention centers, schools, correction facilities and other venues across 15 countries. In May, the company won a contract to provide food and beverage services for the Athletics' planned new ballpark in Las Vegas. Advertisement Aramark is also providing food and beverage at Oakmont Country Club in the Pittsburgh suburbs, where the U.S. Open is taking place this weekend for the 10th time. Best of Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Miami Herald
14-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
No beer: Iconic baseball stadium faces worker strike
People never seem all that sympathetic when professional athletes strike. They generally see the conflict as millionaires fighting billionaires. In both cases, it's rich people battling slightly less rich people over more money than most people see in their lives. Related: New class action suit claims Costco is tricking you on prices The reality, however, is somewhat different. Even though the numbers are very large, the players are still the little guys in any labor dispute. Yes, the money even for mediocre players is very high, but players have short careers, and put their bodies on the line in a way that often has lifelong consequences. The sums being fought about may be higher, but the reality is that players are fighting to get more of the money they make for owners. It's not about the guys at the top of the pay scale (although they often benefit the most), but the ones who might fight to make it to the highest levels. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Strikes by athletes are generally seen as self-indulgent, but they are really not that different from any workers seeking there fair share. That's what's happening in Boston as Fenway Park workers represented by Unite Here Local 26 have been voting on a potential strike. The workers began voting on June 13 and the vote will conclude on June 15. "Unite Here Local 26 represents workers in the hospitality industries of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Our members work in Boston and Providence's best hotels, restaurants, and university dining halls in addition to the Boston Convention Centers, Fenway Park and Logan International Airport. We clean hotel rooms, greet guests, and prepare and serve food for hundreds of thousands of travelers to Boston and the northeast," the union shared on its website. The workers have been working without a contract since 2024. They seek higher wages and guarantees against further automation of their jobs. Retail closings: Popular local Dairy Queen rival suddenly closing, no bankruptcyAnother big Mexican chain closing down restaurant, no bankruptcyUPS suddenly closing more stores amid chaotic new change, layoffsPopular fast-food burger chain closes all restaurants in key area Workers represented by the union are employees of Aramark and not the Boston Red Sox. Positions impacted include beer vendors, cashiers, cooks, servers, souvenir vendors and others, according to the union. Should the workers authorize a strike and the workers actually stage a walkout, it would be the first time Fenway Park concession workers have walked off the job. While it's unlikely games would cancelled in the event of a strike, a walkout could limit food, beverage, and other concessions at the stadium. That could make it harder, if not impossible, to enjoy a Fenway Frank (a hot dog that's unique to the iconic ballpark. Voting for a strike authorization is not a final step. It simply gives union negotiators and added tool to bargain with. Local 26 hotel workers, however, did strike in 2024. That strike was about higher wages, which is the core goal of the Fenway Park workers. Related: Huge music retail chain closes all stores after 'bankruptcy' "Red Sox fans come to Fenway not just to enjoy the games and watch the athletes. They return year after year and they look for the server who gave them great service and made their experience at the ballpark a memorable one. It's a personal connection," Local 26 President Carlos Aramayo said in a statement. "These workers should be paid well, in line with the citywide standard, and they should not have to worry about losing their jobs to technology." The hotel strike ended after four days when an agreement was reached and voted on by the union. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fenway concession workers could walk off the job for the first time. Here's why
By Isabel Hart Workers at Fenway Park and MGM Music Hall represented by the Unite Here Local 26 union are planning a strike vote in June to advocate for higher wages. The hospitality workers union, which represents over 1,000 Aramark workers at the two venues, will host a strike authorization vote from June 13th to 15th, it said. Workers in the union include beer sellers, cashiers, cooks, servers, souvenir vendors and others, according to the union. The union is negotiating a new contract with Aramark, after the previous contract expired at the end of 2024. The union said it began bargaining with Aramark, the food service and facilities management company that employs the workers, earlier this year. 'Both parties are far apart on reaching agreement,' the union said. Aramark did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Unite Here Local 26 is the same union that represented hundreds of hotel workers who went on strike last year. Should the workers vote to authorize a strike and proceed with one, it will be the first time concession workers at Fenway Park strike, according to the union. A strike authorization vote is a standard union process required before a strike can be called. Strike authorizations do not necessarily mean a strike will take place. A tentative date has not been given. The union said the workers earn less than $20 dollars an hour, and want more competitive wages that better line up with the cost of living in Boston. The union also said that increased automation at certain concessions, including the beer stands, is taking away jobs and decreasing earnings. 'Red Sox fans come to Fenway not just to enjoy the games and watch the athletes. They return year after year and they look for the server who gave them great service and made their experience at the ballpark a memorable one. It's a personal connection,' Carlos Aramayo, president of UNITE HERE Local 26 said in a statement. 'These workers should be paid well, in line with the citywide standard, and they should not have to worry about losing their jobs to technology.' Fall River woman sentenced to prison for stealing child's Social Security benefits Whip City Fiber schedules information for residents on Wednesday to learn about town-owned gigabit internet service Harvard amends lawsuit against Trump admin following $450 million cut Longtime restaurant in Boston suburb permanently closing this month 77-year-old woman seriously hurt in crash at Cape Cod grocery store parking lot Read the original article on MassLive.
