Aramark food service workers go on strike at South Philly sports complex

Food service workers at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex’s three venues went on strike Monday, demanding improved pay and healthcare benefits from their employer, Aramark.

UNITE Here Local 274 organized the picket line before the Phillies’ three-game series against the Chicago Cubs – the final homestand of the regular season. Several other events, including a Charli XCX concert at the Wells Fargo Center, are also scheduled this week and could be impacted.

Union leaders are not calling for a boycott of Phillies games or concerts; instead, they are encouraging spectators to tailgate or, in the case of Citizens Bank Park, bring food into the stadium, rather than purchase items inside.

“We are the face of this company. We make this company money, and they’re not giving us what we need,” said Tiffani Davis, 32, of Olney, a cashier and concessions worker. “Everything is going up, and it’s just like, we need to get paid. We don’t ask for a lot.”

Like many Local 274 members, Davis does shifts at all three stadiums. Union negotiators want Aramark to lower the threshold for her and other workers to qualify for health insurance, even if they accrue hours at separate sites.

Rosslyn Wuchinich, the local’s president, said some staff at the Wells Fargo Center make under $15 an hour, while many at CBP earn $17.50. Food service workers are paid more than $20 in other cities, she told Metro.

“There’s a lot of talk right now about stadiums in our city, but there has not been enough talk about stadium workers,” Wuchinich added, referencing the proposed 76ers arena in Center City, which received the backing of Mayor Cherelle Parker last week.

Aramark said in a statement that “our contingency plans will ensure that all food and beverage and retail merchandise services for tonight’s game will be open and available to guests as usual.”

“Going forward, we intend to continue to bargain in good faith for the benefit of all involved,” the Philadelphia-based company continued.

Wuchinich said Aramark hired a temporary staffing agency for the strike, alleging that some of the workers were being paid as much as $29 an hour.

Local 274 workers picketed outside CBP’s employee entrance Monday afternoon as shifts began ahead of the Phillies game. Meanwhile, ballpark representatives thanked those who did report for work and escorted them into the stadium.

Every so often, a yellow school bus pulled up and dropped off groups of workers. Demonstrators attempted to convince the strike-breakers, known in union parlance as “scabs,” not to enter the park.

Picket lines were formed across the sprawling sports complex. Local 274 previously organized a four-day strike at the Wells Fargo Center during the NBA Playoffs in April. Wuchinich said the length of the current walkout has not yet been determined.

The strike has been sanctioned by Teamsters Joint Council No. 53, meaning union-represented drivers can legally refuse to deliver beer, food and other supplies, according to Local 274.

An electronic sign on Pattison Avenue near Broad Street displayed the message “Aramark deliveries straight ahead,” as picketers banged drums in front of a large inflatable cat with a cigar in its mouth strangling a construction worker.

City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier was among the lawmakers who showed up to support the strike. She marched with and addressed a group of union members outside CBP.

“The work that you do enriches wealthy companies like Aramark,” Gauthier told them. “We want to make sure that you get every penny you deserve.”