Fenway Park concessions and different employees with UNITE HERE Native 26 voted to authorize the primary labor strike within the park’s 113-year historical past Sunday.
“Boston is a union town, and it’s time to bring all Fenway workers’ wages up to standard,” stated Carlos Aramayo, president of UNITE HERE Native 26. “Local 26 hotel workers fought for and won $10 an hour raises last year, and Local 26 university dining workers will be making a minimum of $30 an hour by 2028. There’s no reason for Fenway workers to be left behind. They deserve raises and respect!”
The Aramark staff at Fenway Park and MGM Music Corridor voted by 95% to authorize a strike Sunday, UNITE HERE Native 26 introduced. The union represents cashiers, cooks, barbacks, memento distributors, utility employees and extra within the park and music venue.
Throughout a strike, union employees will ask the general public to “respect picket lines by not purchasing any food or beverages from inside the ballpark” in the course of the strike.
The employees’ contract expired on Dec. 31, 2024, UNITE HERE Native 26 stated, and the events have been in bargaining periods since early 2025.
The union stated the perimeters “remain far apart on key issues including wages, technology, and scheduling,” and over 700 employees signed a petition to assist the “core contract demands.”
“A cashier earns $18.52 an hour at Fenway and $21.25 an hour at the Marlins Park in Miami,” Native 26 stated in a launch. “Meanwhile, a beer costs $10.79 at Fenway and $5.14 at the Marlins Park.”
Fenway generated $574 million in income in 2024 and was the costliest stadium to attend a baseball sport, the union cited.
“My co-workers and regular Red Sox fans are like my second family,” stated Natalie Greening, a beer vendor in her twentieth season at Fenway. “But workers are underpaid, and increased automation is taking away jobs and cutting into our earnings.”
