PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Aramark food service workers at the Wells Fargo Center voted overwhelmingly on Sunday to allow their contract negotiating committee to authorize a strike if new contract negotiations continue to stall.
Ninety-two percent of workers in Unite Here Local 274 who voted over the weekend ruled in favor of authorizing a strike, if necessary.
“We showed the strength, we showed the bosses that no, we’re not gonna back down,” said Tiffani Davis. “We’re gonna keep coming and we’re gonna come harder next time if we don’t get what we want.”
Davis works as a cashier, cook and manager at the Wells Fargo Center. She said health care is one of the biggest needs in this new contract.
“If we can’t be healthy, then we can’t work,” she said. “And if we can’t work, we can’t make money for our family. And that’s what the overall thing is — we’re making money for our family.”
While some employees may work part-time in one of the three stadiums at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, many actually work at all three year-round, equating to full-time work. However, Aramark has separate contracts with each venue — Wells Fargo, Lincoln Financial Field and Citizens Bank Park. The union said these employees are essentially working full-time without full-time benefits.
The vote does not mean a strike will happen tomorrow or anytime soon, but it does put a strike into play at the negotiating table.
“It’s so we can decide whether that’s going to happen, and when,” explained spokesperson Kristianna Brown.
In a previous comment to KYW Newsradio, Aramark said it looked forward to “continuing to bargain in good faith to reach an agreement that works for everyone.”
The union is asking for better health care benefits and higher minimum wage rates.