Strike Authorized by Food Service Employees at Fenway Park in Historic First After 113 Years
Fenway Concession Workers Take Stance, Threaten Strike amid Red Sox-Yankees Battle
In an unprecedented move, over 1,000 concession workers at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, are threatening to walk off their jobs following a vote to authorize a strike. This historic action comes ahead of the last game in the Red Sox's three-game home series against the New York Yankees.
After a three-day vote ending Sunday morning, the membership of Unite Here Local 26, Boston's hospitality workers' union, approved the strike authorization by a whopping 95%. The union represents workers at Fenway Park and the adjacent MGM Music Hall, who have been working without a contract with Aramark since the end of 2024.
It's a first for Fenway Park's 113-year history, as concession employees have never before announced plans to walk off the job. In response to the potential strike, the Red Sox referred a request for comment to Aramark. The company issued a statement expressing its commitment to reaching a fair settlement before services are affected.
Union members have cited several concerns in their negotiations with Aramark. Among them are wage increases, fair scheduling based on seniority, and limitations on the use of automation. The inclusion of automation in concession stands has raised particular ire among employees. In a Boston Globe article published June 13, one Fenway concessions employee expressed concerns over reduced earnings and tips due to interactions being limited by an AI-powered checkout machine.
The union president, Carlos Aramayo, highlighted the success of the Local 26 chapter in negotiating wage increases for other hospitality workers in Boston. Aramayo claimed that employees at Fenway should earn the same rates as their peers in other cities and industries.
The union has raised questions about wages, pointing out that Fenway employees earn $18.52 per hour, while their counterparts in Miami earn $21.25 at the Marlins' loanDepot Park. This figure is significant given that the cost of living is 28% higher in Boston than in Miami-Dade County, according to Nerd Wallet data.
The Boston Red Sox, valued at $6.03 billion, per Sportico valuations, are the third-most valuable team in Major League Baseball (MLB). However, they rank 10th in average game attendance this season, with 32,721 fans per game. In comparison, the Miami Marlins, who rank 28th, draw only 11,648 fans per game. Both stadiums can accommodate approximately 37,000 fans.
Unite Here, which represents over 300,000 employees in the U.S. and Canada, operates across various industries such as food service, hotels, casinos, laundries, and warehouses. The union has a history of labor actions, with Local 274, representing food and beverage workers for Philadelphia's three primary sports venues, going on strike against Aramark last year. The strike ended within days as the Phillies advanced to the postseason, but the two sides didn't immediately sign a contract. The situation ultimately resolved before the start of the 2025 MLB season.
Aramark, a company that manages food services at stadiums, arenas, and other venues across 15 countries, has won several contracts, including a deal to provide food and beverage services for the Oakland Athletics' new ballpark in Las Vegas. Currently, Aramark is also providing food and beverage services at the U.S. Open venue, Oakmont Country Club in Pittsburgh's suburbs.
In light of the potential strike at Fenway Park, both the Red Sox and the city of Boston must find a solution that respects and compensates concession workers fairly, ensuring the smooth operation of the park for fans and the continued success of the Red Sox franchise.
(This story's headline and first paragraph have been updated to clarify the union authorized a strike.)
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People across various industries, including commerce, sports, and baseball, are closely watching the ongoing dispute between Fenway Park concession workers and Aramark. The threat of a strike by over 1,000 union members could not only impact the smooth operation of Feneway Park during the Red Sox-Yankees game but also set a precedent for MLB teams and their concession workers.
