Workers at Fenway Park and the nearby MGM Music Hall in Boston have cast a decisive vote, choosing to authorize a strike against their employer, Aramark. According to NBC Boston, the vote came as a response to stalled contract negotiations over wages, scheduling, and the integration of technology in their workplaces. This voting outcome was confirmed by UNITE HERE Local 26, the union that represents these employees, on Sunday.
As negotiations continue with Aramark, the authorization does not presently mean that the workers have ceased their roles at these iconic Boston locales. However, with a 95% yes vote for the strike authorization, the possibility of a future walkout looms over Fenway Park — known primarily as the home of the Boston Red Sox — and the adjacent MGM Music Hall. The union also announced that, in the event of a strike, they would call upon Red Sox fans to respect the picket lines by not purchasing food or beverages inside Fenway Park, as told by CBS Boston.
The workers have expressed significant concerns about their current wages, stating they earn less than $20 per hour, which falls short of the major league standard. The union highlights the wage disparity when compared with Marlins Park in Miami where concession workers earn $2.73 more per hour, and the price of a beer is $5.65 less than at Fenway Park, "We love working at Fenway, My co-workers and regular Red Sox fans are like my second family. But workers are underpaid, and increased automation is taking away jobs and cutting into our earnings," said veteran Fenway beer seller, Natalie Greening, in a statement reported by CBS Boston.
UNITE HERE Local 26's stance is clear as their president, Carlos Aramayo, stated, "Boston is a union town, and it’s time to bring all Fenway workers’ wages up to standard. 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. There’s no reason for Fenway workers to be left behind. They deserve raises, and respect!" as per comments to NBC Boston. In response to the growing tension and the strike authorization, an Aramark spokesperson has indicated the company's intention to continue negotiations with the union and has prepared contingency plans to ensure uninterrupted service in the event of a strike.
As of now, while the authorization has been approved, the union has not called for an official strike action. The issues cited by the workers, including wages and technological advancements presumed to be automation, such as self-checkout concession machines, are still on the table for discussion. With the current contract having lapsed at the end of 2024, these Boston concession workers stand united, demanding equitable treatment and holding the power of collective action firmly in their grasp.
