Concessions workers from UBS Arena left the stands behind on Thursday and marched straight to the National Hockey League’s Manhattan headquarters, turning Midtown into their latest picket line. Cooks, dishwashers, and other hospitality staff say they have been working without a contract since last fall and argue that the current offer from their employer does not keep up with the cost of living. The show of force was aimed at turning up the heat on Delaware North and league officials before the next New York Islanders season.
Who the workers are and where they work
The workers are represented by UNITE HERE Local 100, which organizes food service and arena staff across the New York region, according to UNITE HERE Local 100. UBS Arena, located at Belmont Park on Long Island, serves as the Islanders’ home rink, with Delaware North operating the venue’s concessions, according to venue listings and stadium guides. By taking their demands to Midtown, the rally pulled what is usually a behind-the-scenes pay dispute into the city’s political conversation and the NHL’s orbit of fans and executives.
They took their case to the league
Outside the skyscraper that houses the NHL’s league office in Manhattan, a sizable group of UBS Arena workers called for negotiations to restart and for a larger wage increase than the one currently on the table. Union leaders say this unit has been without a contract since October 2025 and that the two sides last sat down for formal talks in February. Delaware North told reporters it had bargained in good faith and reached a tentative five-year agreement in February, but said the union later sought changes that would have reopened negotiations. The company said it is now pursuing the appropriate legal process while urging employees to review and vote on the proposed deal, according to Spectrum News NY1.
Workers' pay and voices
On the sidewalk outside NHL headquarters, cooks and dishwashers spelled out how their paychecks fall short of their bills. “The majority of us are making under $25,” cook Agustin Arana said. Dishwasher Ameer Muhammad told the union he currently earns $21.75 per hour and said that even a $2 raise would only bring him to $23.75. UNITE HERE executive board member Christina DuBose added that workers are feeling the squeeze of rising prices while venues and operators take in significant revenues. Those pay figures and remarks were shared with reporters as workers pressed Delaware North to come back to the bargaining table, according to Spectrum News NY1.
A broader pattern
The fight at UBS Arena is part of a larger wave of stadium and arena workers across the country demanding higher wages and stronger benefits. Similar efforts in other cities have recently produced sizable wins at the bargaining table. In Philadelphia, UNITE HERE’s bargaining with Aramark led to tentative agreements that included significant wage hikes and expanded health coverage, an outcome labor organizers point to as an example of how venue contracts can deliver citywide gains for hospitality workers, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Union leaders at UBS Arena say they are pushing for a larger raise than what is currently proposed, and workers have told organizers they hope to see a final agreement in place before the Islanders’ next season begins in September. Delaware North says it remains focused on reaching a final resolution that lets team members review and vote on any deal. Both sides are treating the coming weeks as pivotal for deciding whether negotiations will fully restart or continue to play out from a distance.
_015_-_UBS_Arena.jpg){kind=link}