Headed to a Phillies game this weekend? Here’s what to know about stadium workers’ picket line

As the Phillies head into the National League Division Series this weekend, unionized stadium workers employed by Aramark are planning to picket outside Citizens Bank Park.

The union is asking fans to boycott the Phillies retail store at 11th Street at the ballpark and to skip buying team gear at shops within the stadium in support of workers negotiating for new contracts.

The picket is expected to begin Friday near the team store, according to Unite Here Local 274, the union that represents the workers.

The action comes as the union has been negotiating for new contracts for Aramark employees that staff concessions at Citizens Bank Park, Lincoln Financial Field, and the Wells Fargo Center, and also work in retail at Citizens Bank Park.

Many of the unionized workers are employed at more than one venue, and they’re seeking standard employment conditions across all three. The stadium workers’ most recent contracts expired in March, and less than 100 of the roughly 1,500 workers that the union represents have year-round health care, the union has said.

“Aramark has bargained in good faith with Unite Here Local 274 for nearly 10 months,” Chris Collom, vice president for Aramark’s corporate communications, said Friday. “Following their last strike, which ended on Sept. 26, we’ve reached out to the union to engage in a productive dialogue. Despite this, the union has chosen to pursue nonproductive tactics including demonstrating ahead of the Phillies playoff game and seeking a boycott of Aramark’s services.”

On Saturday the Phillies will face the Mets in the postseason for the first time in franchise history. The two National League East rivals are battling for the right to advance to the National League Championship Series. The teams met 13 times in 2024, the Phillies winning seven of those games.

“It could go either way in a best-of-five series,” The Inquirer’s Alex Coffey wrote.

If you’re heading to a Phillies playoff game, here’s what you need to know:

The Phillies play the Mets at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday at 4:08 p.m.

They have another scheduled game against the Mets on Sunday at the stadium at the same time.

Last week, hundreds of union members employed by Aramark at all three South Philly sports complex stadiums went on strike from Monday through Thursday.

Workers have since returned to work as they continue to seek new contracts. The unionized Aramark employees are still authorized to strike, meaning there could be more work stoppages if new disputes arise, according to Dermot Delude-Dix, Unite Here’s attorney.

Yes.

The picket is not expected to affect staffing levels of the New Era Phillies Team Store or retail stands at Citizens Bank Park because union members are back to work after the four-day strike last week, according Delude-Dix.

Aramark spokesperson Collom said that so far, the strikes, demonstrations, and boycotts “have had zero impact on the fan experience at any of the venues,” and that the company continues to have contingency plans in place to ensure service.

The Phillies declined to comment.

During the strike last week, the union encouraged fans to support striking workers by foregoing buying stadium food and drinks.

The union is no longer asking fans to boycott food and drink concessions, said Delude-Dix, but is asking fans to buy their Phillies merchandise online or elsewhere.

Reliable figures weren’t immediately available on Friday. But the Phillies are among the most valuable clubs in Major League Baseball.

MLB posted all-time-high revenue of $378 million per team in 2023, according to Forbes magazine, as income from tickets, sponsorships, media, and licensing hit new peaks. The Phillies, worth $2.93 billion, tied with the Dodgers for the biggest increase from 2023 at 14%, mostly because of their local media deals, the magazine said.

The Yankees remained baseball’s most valuable team, worth $7.55 billion, while the Phillies ranked seventh.

The union announced Friday morning that picketing would begin that day, but could not immediately share a start time. Some picketing began Thursday, according to Delude-Dix, and until the union receives a new collective bargaining agreement, picketing could occur at any of the three stadiums.

“Going forward, we intend to continue to bargain in good faith for the benefit of all involved,” Aramark’s Collom said. “It is our sincere hope that the union will do the same.”