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Fenway Park concession workers plan to strike Friday if no deal is reached
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
The heat is back, with temperatures expected to peak tomorrow. While we may not hit triple-digits like a month ago, it might feel like it thanks to the "oppressive humidity," meteorologist Danielle Noyes said. She has more details on what to expect here.
Also feeling the heat: Fenway Park concession workers are preparing to go on strike Friday, hours before the Red Sox host a high-profile series against old friend Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers. UNITE HERE Local 26 — the union representing Fenway's food, beverage and souvenir vendors — announced yesterday it is giving the ballpark's concessions contractor, Aramark, a deadline of noon Friday to make an offer that includes meaningful wage increases and limits on automated kiosks. The push comes after 95% of union members voted last month to authorize a strike; and in recent weeks, hundreds of workers have signed up for strike benefits and dozens have been trained to lead picket lines. Local 26 President Carlos Aramayo told WBUR's Rob Lane they're past the point of posturing: "We're dead serious."
- What happens if they strike: The strike — the first in Fenway history — would last three days, the duration of the weekend home stand against the Dodgers. Aramark, which says it's bargaining in good faith, said in a statement yesterday it has "contingency plans in place to ensure that services are not interrupted.”
- What does it mean for fans? Don't worry if you shelled out for tickets; the union doesn't consider attending a game this weekend to be crossing the picket line. But if there is a strike, they are asking fans to not buy food or drink inside the park.
- Outside the ballpark: The potential strike also involves concession workers at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway, which is set to host a country music concert Friday.
- What they're saying: "Nobody wants to, but everyone's ready," Amanda Savage, a longtime Fenway concession worker, told Rob. "And short-term, it will hurt us. It will hurt the company. But long-term, it will hopefully result in a contract that is fair for us." In its statement, Aramark said it was "disappointed" by the union's strike deadline and "committed to delivering an outstanding fan experience."
- Go deeper: Local 26 also sent a letter yesterday to Red Sox owner John Henry, asking team leadership to intervene in the dispute. You can read it in full here.
In other strike news: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu says she is instructing code enforcement workers to issue fines directly to Republic Services for uncollected trash, as sanitation workers for the company continue to strike. Wu sent a letter to Republic yesterday saying her office has gotten complaints about "overflowing" dumpsters for several businesses in Boston that pay the company for private trash collection. The mayor said it's hurting businesses that continue to pay for Republic's trash pickup while also racking up daily fines for trash violations caused by not receiving that service.
- While the city gave a short enforcement reprieve after the strike started, Wu said she expects Republic to absorb all uncollected trash fines since July 7. And as of yesterday, the city will send any additional fines directly to Republic.
Entering Dunkin' town: How do you celebrate the return of New England's favorite coffee chain, after becoming a "Dunkin' desert"? If you're Stow, you go all out. The town's Select Board voted earlier this month to ceremonially change its name to "Dunkin," for just today, to celebrate the opening of its new Dunkin' franchise. (For any Dunkin-deprived Stow residents reading, it's located at 108 Great Road.)
- The over-the-top move comes after Stow's two previous Dunkin's closed within a month of each other in 2022 — a story that subsequently went viral thanks to WBZ reporter/TikTok hitmaker Matt Shearer. As WBUR's Amy Sokolow reports, Stow Select Board member Dan Peterson said that friends as far away as California let him know "they were praying for us." "I think those prayers have been answered, so thank you," Peterson added.
P.S. — Ever wonder what the music of Venezuela and Appalachia sounds like fused together? Come to CitySpace tonight to hear for yourself, as we host the folk duo Larry & Joe as part of our ongoing concert series. Tickets are available here.
