Fenway Park is 113 years old, and there has never been a worker walkout in its history. The concession workers at Fenway went on strike for three days over wage disputes. The strike began on Friday at noon and lasted the entire series against the Dodgers.
The unionized workers have not settled with the company that handles concession sales at Fenway, but the strike ended on Sunday night after a three-day strike. The workers could organize another strike in the future, as they have yet to reach a new contract.
Concession Workers at Fenway Park End Their Strike
The local union in Boston, “UNITE Here Local 26,” announced on Friday that the Fenway Park concession workers went on strike at noon. They walked out after Aramark, the global food services company, failed to meet the union’s demand for better wages. The Fenway Park and MGM Music Hall concession workers went on strike for the home series against the Dodgers, which ended on Sunday.
Aramark brought in replacement workers to work the concession stands, while union members picketed outside. They urged fans to buy their food and drinks elsewhere while wearing Green Monster-colored union shirts. They had baseball-shaped picket signs and drummers to show their dismay with wages.
ATTENTION RED SOX FANS: Food and beer workers are currently ON STRIKE @fenwaypark. For the entire @RedSox vs @Dodgers homestand, we’re asking you to NOT buy concessions inside the ballpark. Tailgate before the games! pic.twitter.com/QUf2bo8oNP
— UNITE HERE Local 26 (@UNITEHERE26) July 25, 2025
The strike concluded on Sunday, but Aramark and the union did not resolve the contract dispute. The spokesperson for Aramark made comments regarding the dispute.
“We intend to keep working with the union toward a settlement that works for everyone,” the spokesperson said. “In the event of a strike, we have contingency plans in place to ensure that services are not interrupted.”
The Red Sox are in Minnesota until July 30, but return home on August 1 for a three-game series with the Astros. It is unclear when the parties will resolve the dispute and if another strike could occur.
Union members say that Fenway workers are paid considerably less than workers in similar stadium jobs in less expensive cities. They used prices and wages from LoanDepot Park in Miami as an example.
The average price of a beer in LoanDepot Park is $5.14, while the average at Fenway is $10.79. The difference in wages is staggering, however. The cashiers at Fenway make $18.52 per hour, while the cashiers at LoanDepot Park make $21.25 per hour.
Some data suggests that Fenway Park is the most expensive stadium to attend, and the Red Sox are the third-most valuable team in the league behind the Yankees and Dodgers.
Since 2020, the Boston Red Sox owner (John Henry) more than doubled his wealth from $2.6 billion to $5.5 billion. He bought the Red Sox for $380 million. It’s now worth $4.8 billion while Fenway’s entry level workers make $7-$12 an hour less than comparable workers in Boston. https://t.co/7aqLirppfp
— Warren Gunnels (@GunnelsWarren) July 28, 2025
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders publicly supported the workers in a post on X. He also sent a letter to Red Sox owner John Henry and Aramark urging them to negotiate “in good faith.” The Red Sox organization hopes for a quick resolution to the dispute, but it is not involved in the negotiations.
Fenway Park is an iconic American institution, and it’s the workers there that make every Red Sox game special.
The team is extremely profitable. They should treat their employees with respect, pay them decent wages and negotiate a fair contract with the union. pic.twitter.com/SA5OHBvId3
— Sen. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) July 18, 2025
The future is unclear, but they are working to resolve the dispute quickly and appropriately. It will become clearer as the Red Sox return home over the weekend. Aramark claims to have contingency plans in place, but the workers deserve fair wages and a resolution.
