The Los Angeles Dodgers are due to host the 2022 MLB All-Star Game next week for the first time since 1980, but potential trouble hovers ahead as Dodger Stadium workers are threatening to strike.
On Sunday, stadium employees who work Dodger Stadium food and beverage stands operated by Levy Restaurants, voted 99% to strike, which could be imposed at any moment this week.
“I voted yes to strike because I often have to pick up shifts at the Rose Bowl just to try to make ends meet,” said Laura Ortiz, who has been a Compass Group and Levy Restaurants bartender at Dodger Stadium for 15 seasons.
“I love working at Dodger Stadium and know that our company can do better.”
Dodger Stadium employees have garnered support from the MLB Players Association.
“The MLPBA stands in solidarity with Dodger Stadium concession workers represented by Unite Here Local 11,” the union said in a statement. “Like thousands of ballpark workers across the country, Local 11’s members are a vital yet under appreciated part of what makes our game great.
“They deserve to be treated fairly and will continue to have the 1,200 members of the MLBPA behind them.”
Levy Restaurants is a subsidiary of Compass Group, which is the sixth-largest company in the world. Levy employs nearly 1,500 food servers, bartenders, suite attendants, cooks and dish washers at Dodger Stadium.
They are part of Unite Here Local 11, a labor union that represents more than 32,000 hospitality workers in California and Arizona.
Earlier this year, SoFi stadium workers secured a new union contract that provided improved wages, benefits and other protections. Levy workers at Dodger Stadium now seek the same agreement.
“Stadium workers are proud of the role they play to bring fans the best game experience possible,” Unite Here Local 11 co-president Susan Minato said in a statement.
“They are the backbone of our tourism and sports industry, yet many struggle to stay housed and to make ends meet. They often live with economic uncertainty because the quality of jobs vary stadium to stadium. No worker should have to continue living like this.”
Dodgers helped support Dodger Stadium employees
When the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic delayed the start of the 2020 regular season, the Dodgers provided relief funds to Dodger Stadium workers, including event staff, concessions, parking, cleaning personnel employed by third-party contractors, and the Dodgers Foundation event staff.
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