San Francisco Giants’ AT&T Park concession workers call one-day strike

[Omaha Steve]

Source: SI Wire

By Brian Kotloff

More than 750 AT&T Park concession workers began a one-day strike at the San Francisco Giants’ ballpark at 4 a.m. PT Saturday, as negotiations between the concession workers’ union, Local 2, and the Giants’ food and beverage subcontractor, Centerpiece, have hit a standstill.

The strike, which includes picketers on both sides of the ballpark, is expected to last through the Giants’ 1:05 p.m. PT game against the Colorado Rockies. The team has brought in replacement workers to serve food at the game, but long lines are expected.

Union members authorized the strike earlier this month, according to NBCBayArea.com.

“This strike should be a wake-up call to Centerplate and the Giants.” Patricia Ramirez, a cook for 13 years, said in the report. “We want a new contract with wage increases, health care, and job security, and we’re willing to fight for it.”

FULL story at link.



Read more: http://tracking.si.com/2013/05/25/giants-concession-workers-strike/

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Concession workers at San Francisco’s AT&T Park will be on strike on Saturday after negotiations with the Giants’ food subcontractor hit a standstill. (Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)

[Skeeter Barnes]

1. I hope a large number of fans honor their struggle and avoid the park that day

or at least not spend money on concessions while the strike is on.

"Without our brain and muscle, not a single wheel can turn"

[DeSwiss]

9. :-/ This bears repeating......

"Without our brain and muscle, not a single wheel can turn" "Without our brain and muscle, not a single wheel can turn" "Without our brain and muscle, not a single wheel can turn" "Without our brain and muscle, not a single wheel can turn" "Without our brain and muscle, not a single wheel can turn" "Without our brain and muscle, not a single wheel can turn" "Without our brain and muscle, not a single wheel can turn" "Without our brain and muscle, not a single wheel can turn" "Without our brain and muscle, not a single wheel can turn" "Without our brain and muscle, not a single wheel can turn" "Without our brain and muscle, not a single wheel can turn" "Without our brain and muscle, not a single wheel can turn" "Without our brain and muscle, not a single wheel can turn" "Without our brain and muscle, not a single wheel can turn"

K&R

[Mr. David]

2. Wow. I have the game on my boob tube..

I'm with the Rockies....

Current score is 2-0 Rockies, top of third.

[marmar]

3. Solidarity !!!

[Mnemosyne]

4. Maybe I am missing something, but why would a strike start at 1 a.m.? Thanks! nt

[Omaha Steve]

5. To stop deliveries etc

Teamsters won't cross a picket line. But the pickets needs to be there. The workers know what was supposed to come in at what time. Can't sell hot dogs without fresh buns.

[mountain grammy]

6. "This dispute is between Centerplate and Local 2, not the Giants".. Bull!!

The enormous amount of money in professional sports should trickle down way more than it does. Everyone who works in this country deserves a living wage; got it!?

Solidarity!

[Ken Burch]

7. Another Giants fan in support of the concession workers.

Guess we know what the S.F. Mime Troupe's NEXT show will be about.

[marble falls]

8. I support the unions and the workers. Why are people having to fightfor a living wage in 2013?

[Skeeter Barnes]

10. Some of the scabs working that day were church volunteers working for free.

A number of the replacement workers inside AT&T Park were unpaid members of nonprofit organizations, according to Bob Contreras, who was serving food and drink to benefit Day3 Church in San Joaquin. “We all volunteer,” he explained while on a break during the seventh inning, “and all the proceeds go to our church, for ministry.”

It’s not unusual for non-profit volunteers to work at AT&T Park for free, in order to raise money for their organizations, but Mike Casey, president of Local 2, says that they’re being used to undermine paid workers. “It’s a real scam,” says Casey. “They [Centerplate] make huge savings, they don’t pay wages, don’t pay healthcare, don’t pay pensions, they don’t have to do any of the contractual requirements that they have to do for a worker.”

Standing beneath the stadium’s “Wall of Fame,” Wendlberger said the average Local 2 worker makes about $11,000 during the six-month-long season. The workers have not received a raise since 2009; Centerplate has offered a $0.25 hourly wage increase for 2013. “That’s honestly not much,” Wendlberger says. “The cost of living’s gone up, gas prices have gone up, foods gone up, everything’s gone up for us except pay.”

http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/15053/concessions_workers_launch_one_day_strike/