Overview

• UNITE HERE Local 26 members approved strike authorization by a 647-33 vote to demand pay raises, limits on automation and schedules that respect seniority.
• Workers walked off prior to Sunday’s Red Sox–Yankees game, marking the first strike in Fenway Park’s 113-year history.
• Concession employees earn $18.52 an hour compared with $21.25 at Miami Marlins stadiums as automation through self-service kiosks has reduced shifts and tips.
• Aramark says it has contingency plans to maintain services but negotiations have stalled since the contract expired in December 2024.
• The walkout follows broader victories by Boston hospitality workers, where Local 26 secured $10-an-hour raises last year and a $30 minimum wage by 2028 for university dining staff.