For immediate release
September 19, 2011
Antony Dugdale
215-779-4404
Rose Lynd
412-315-8267
Aramark faces trouble at Phillies & Penguins Stadiums
Workers reject both contract offers in votes at Citizens Bank Park (Phillies) and Consol Arena (Penguins)
September 19, 2011 – Last night, Aramark workers at Citizens Bank Park voted 515 to 275 to reject the company’s final contract offer, setting the stage for a public dispute just as the Phillies clinched the NL East.
This evening, Aramark workers at Consol Energy Center voted 273 to 28 to reject Aramark’s contract offer, just as the Pittsburgh Penguins season begins on September 21.
There are three primary sticking points in the dispute at Citizens Bank Park:
- Wages. Below is a comparison of regular wage paid to a concessions stand attendant at two stadiums:
- Citizens Bank Park (Phillies)
$11.00/hour
Aramark Proposal: 30¢/hr - Fenway Stadium (Red Sox)
$12.32/hour
Guaranteed Annual Raise: 65¢/hr (average over 4 years)
- Citizens Bank Park (Phillies)
- Benefits. Currently, 240 of the 1500 workers are eligible for basic health insurance benefits. Aramark proposes to make only 81 eligible.
- Opportunity to work. Aramark: (1) wants to reduce the minimum number of hours that workers get paid for each game; (2) prevents workers from working all the games in the homestand, to avoid paying overtime; and (3) won’t let beer vendors advertise on the concourse, reducing their sales and commissions.
"When I started out here, I didn’t have kids and I could find a second job. Now I have kids to support and finding work is harder than ever because of the recession," said Briheem Douglas, a concessions worker. "Working at Citizens Bank Park isn’t just a side job for me. I depend on the wages I earn to support my family."
"When we have a long homestand Aramark won’t let me work every game. I lose a full game’s worth of tips, which adds up," said Denise Pane, a suites attendant at CBP. "I love serving the fans of the greatest team on the planet, and I’m standing up for a contract that lets me work every game."
At Consol in Pittsburgh, Aramark is offering annual raises of just 25¢/hr for six years. Aramark also demands further pay cuts for merchandise and suite attendants.
"Last year I worked more, but I earned less than the year before. And now Aramark wants to cut our gratuity, which means each worker would lose an estimated $1,500 a year. Aramark can do better," said Jay Szewczyk, suite attendant at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh.
UNITE HERE represents stadium workers who prepare and sell food, drinks, and merchandise in the stands, suites, and seats. This includes 1,500 Aramark workers at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, and 600 Aramark workers at Consol Arena in Pittsburgh. Across North America, UNITE HERE represents 250,000 stadium, food service, hotel, airport, and gaming workers, including approximately 6,000 in Philadelphia and 2,500 in Pittsburgh.