Red Senator Chris Murphy criticizes Red Sox team owner during Fenway Park concession workers' strike, referring to the situation as smell-worthy
In the heart of Boston, a labor dispute between concession workers at Fenway Park and their employer, Aramark, has escalated, leading to a three-day strike during a high-profile homestand between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers in late July. The workers, represented by UNITE HERE Local 26, are pressing for better pay, fair scheduling, living wages, and opposition to automation at the ballpark.
The strike, which affected cooks, barbacks, souvenir vendors, utility workers, cashiers, and other staff, was not a decision taken lightly. Union president Carlos Aramayo emphasised that the culture of Fenway Park is about human interaction, not having a robot serve drinks.
Since the initial strike, tensions have continued without resolution. Workers have issued warnings of a second strike and plan to gather inside Fenway Park before a game against the Kansas City Royals in early August to reinforce their demands for fairness, including protection from automation and wage increases comparable to other ballparks and similar Boston-area jobs.
The Boston Red Sox organisation has not publicly negotiated directly with the union, but has acknowledged the important role of concession workers. Some Red Sox players have expressed support for the workers’ cause, emphasising fair compensation for all employees at Fenway. Meanwhile, the union has urged fans not to purchase concessions inside the ballpark during strikes as a show of solidarity with the workers.
The labor stoppage occurred after a 12 p.m. deadline passed on Friday to reach a new collective bargaining agreement with Aramark. The workers are striking because they earn under $20 an hour, which is about $10 an hour below the citywide standard for similar jobs. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) has criticised Red Sox owner John Henry over the wages paid to some workers at the stadium.
Aramark, however, has stated that they have bargained in good faith and are disappointed that the union rejected their latest offer and chose to call a strike. They also mentioned that they have contingency plans in place to ensure fans will not encounter service interruptions.
Union officials have stressed that the labor issue is not just about the Red Sox, but about the ability of workers to afford to live in the city. As the Red Sox return home for a six-game homestand on Friday, the fate of the ongoing negotiations remains uncertain. The Red Sox have stated that they are not a party to the negotiations between Aramark and Local 26, but the concession workers are encouraging fans to purchase food and drinks outside the gates in a show of support.
- Despite Aramark's contingency plans, union officials are urging fans not to buy concessions inside Fenway Park during strikes, as a show of solidarity with the underpaid workers who are demanding wages comparable to other ballparks and similar Boston-area jobs, including living wages.
- The ongoing labor dispute between concession workers at Fenway Park and their employer, Aramark, is not just about the Red Sox, but about the ability of workers to afford to live in the city, as the workers earn under $20 an hour, which is about $10 an hour below the citywide standard for similar jobs.
