The air was hot and sticky as fans flowed into Fenway Park for Friday’s game between the Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers. But hospitality workers with UNITE HERE Local 26 remained outside, hoisting signs and banging on drums.
Along with workers at MGM Music Hall, they were on strike, pushing for a new contract after going without one since the end of last year. The strike would also impact two other games over the weekend. Even though it ended Sunday at 11 p.m., the issue remains unresolved — meaning the workers could strike again.
Natalie Greening was one of the Fenway workers on the picket line Friday. She was hopeful for a bigger proposal from food services company Aramark.
“The last proposal that they sent to us was cents increase. We’re looking for dollars. We’re not here for pennies; we’re here for dollars,” Greening said.
Aramark, for their part, said they are disappointed in the union’s decision to strike.
What’s a fan to do?
The labor battle turned something as simple as buying a hot dog into a moral dilemma for fans.
Even after the game got underway, fans could still hear the chants of union members outside, imploring fans to not buy food or drinks in the ballpark.
Patrick Mackey and Michael Gray decided to grab a bite at a sausage stand outside before Friday’s game.
“They might as well pay 'em because it’s gonna be worth [it], in the long run, when you get good service and you get sold-out crowds,” said Gray. “I mean, are you kidding me?”
Mackey described the workers as “the people that we love” and said they’re in the park every game for the fans. But it’s not just hot dogs and nachos that these workers sell; they also sell drinks. And for many spectators, that’s a game day must-have.
“I mean, you know, if I need a beer, I’m gonna get a beer, man,” Mackey said. “It sucks. I want to support them, but if I’m in there, I want a beer. I won’t lie, I’m gonna buy a beer.”
Like many other strikes, the main sticking point is pay. But the dispute also features some modern concerns.
“Aramark and Fenway Park have put in place automated technology that is taking away our jobs and, frankly, making the park less safe,” said UNITE HERE Local 26 President Carlos Aramayo.
The union says beer kiosks pose a risk of selling alcohol to minors or overserving.
Data on sales and wait times for concessions over the weekend was not immediately available.
The union contends that service was slower and of lower quality during the strike. But a Red Sox team spokesperson said ballpark operations ran smoothly.
Sunday and beyond
Although Sunday brought an early drizzle on the striking workers, spirits appeared high on the picket line.
Lauren Casello has worked at Fenway for 22 seasons. And even though she had gone through a long weekend of striking, she was still ready to go to work later in the week.
“Some of us, like for me, I work premium, [so] I do shifts all year round,” Casello said. “So I have a shift on Tuesday, so we’ll be back to work on Tuesday doing those functions. But as for games, that’s still ... we’re not sure.”
Technically, the strike ended Sunday following the end of the three-game series against the Dodgers. But the union left open the possibility of striking again if an agreement isn’t reached.
The Red Sox will return to Fenway starting Friday for back-to-back homestands against the Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals.
A spokesperson from the union told GBH News Monday that there were no talks scheduled at this time.
The Red Sox say they remain hopeful that the two parties — Aramark and the union — will reach a swift and fair resolution.
And Aramark, which faced a similar strike in Philadelphia last year, said in a statement that they have bargained in good faith and that they are committed to delivering an outstanding fan experience.
