PHILADELPHIA — Hundreds of exuberant food service workers at the Wells Fargo Center here went on a one-day strike April 9 against their boss, Aramark. The workers staff concession stands at Philadelphia Flyers, 76ers and Wings games, as well as concerts and other big events at the stadiums in South Philadelphia.
Cooks, servers, bartenders, concession staffers and other members of UNITE HERE Local 274 started picketing early at the stadium, several hours before the Philadelphia 76ers were due to play the Detroit Pistons in an NBA game. The strikers urged fans to support their fight by spreading the word and not buying food or drinks from Aramark stands.
Aramark workers at the Wells Fargo Center and neighboring Lincoln Financial Field and Citizens Bank Park, where the Philadelphia Eagles and Philadelphia Phillies play, say their wages and benefits aren’t keeping up with inflation. Workers at the three stadiums make different hourly wages, and union members told the Militant they’re treated as seasonal workers rather than year-round employees.
“I’m out here fighting for health care for everyone and better wages. I make $8 an hour, we live off of gratuities,” Randi Trent, a caterer for Aramark, said. Several strikers said that because they aren’t considered full-time workers they have no health care coverage.
“We’re looking for humane treatment. We work for a multibillion dollar company and we have no health care offered to us. We have no paid sick time, we get no paid time off,” bartender Carlton Epps told the media.
Aramark bosses count the hours employees work at each building separately, even though they’re doing the same jobs for the same employer. This means they don’t get enough hours to get health care.
Philadelphia-based Aramark is an international conglomerate that raked in over $18 billion last year.
“You got my support,” said Phil Watkins, a welder, who was going to the basketball game. “We all have to stand up together.”