Concessions workers at Target Field have started voting on whether to authorize a strike, union leaders say, turning a simmering contract dispute with stadium operator Delaware North into a potential midseason showdown. The vote, timed around May Day, covers hundreds of servers, bartenders, cooks, and in-seat vendors who say low pay keeps them juggling multiple jobs just to get by. Union representatives are pushing for a $20 minimum hourly wage and better access to health benefits, arguing that contract talks have stalled.
Workers say pay leaves them in "survival mode"
Devante Boyd, a food runner at the ballpark for three years, told the Star Tribune that low wages have left many workers stuck in what he called "survival mode." Union treasurer Sheigh Freeberg told the same outlet that employees are "fed up" with being cut early, going without health insurance, and dealing with what they describe as indifference from the Minnesota Twins organization. The union is seeking a $20 hourly wage floor, about 3 dollars above Minneapolis’ minimum wage, a move members say would help steady the workforce and make schedules less chaotic.
Vote started at a May Day press event
Unite Here Local 17 says roughly 500 Target Field concession workers began their strike-authorization vote on May Day, following a press conference outside the stadium’s team store, according to Bring Me The News. Ballots are being cast over several days, with results to be tallied and released later. Union leaders say they are prepared to wield a strike authorization as leverage if negotiations do not yield what they consider a fair contract.
Union says bargaining has stalled with Delaware North
Union representatives told the Star Tribune that they opened talks with Delaware North in March, but that a follow-up session was later canceled and progress since then has been minimal. According to the paper, union officials say a strike could be called at any time once authorization is in hand. Representatives for the Minnesota Twins did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
This is not a brand-new problem at the ballpark
Tension over pay and staffing at Target Field has been a recurring subplot since the ballpark opened. A 2016 report from WCCO/CBS Minnesota described significant staffing shortages and fights over temporary workers that led the team to bus in help from other cities. Unite Here Local 17’s contracts page shows the union has represented hospitality workers at the stadium for years and negotiates similar agreements at multiple venues around the Twin Cities.
What to watch next
Union officials say they will announce the outcome of the vote once ballots are counted. Delaware North and the Twins could face mounting pressure to reach a deal before any walkout disrupts games and concessions service. For now, union members and their supporters are casting the vote as a key bargaining chip to secure higher pay and more predictable schedules during the busiest stretch of the season, according to Bring Me The News.
