Beer and Food Workers Walk Off for First Ever Strike at Fenway as Dodgers Come to Town

BOSTON—For the first time in Fenway Park’s storied 113-year history, fans at this weekend’s Red Sox-Dodgers homestand are being greeted with more than just the crack of the bat: they’re hearing chants, pounding drums, and the unmistakable sight of picketing food and beverage workers marching outside the stadium.

On Friday, July 25, roughly 1,000 Aramark food and beverage workers—members of the Local 26 union—walked off the job at noon after contract negotiations collapsed, citing demands for “living wages, guardrails on technology, and R-E-S-P-E-C-T!” The strike kicked off mere hours before first pitch and is set to last through the entirety of the three-game homestand against the Los Angeles Dodgers, making it the first work stoppage of its kind at Fenway.

Fans, Many in Solidarity, Told: Stay Away from Ballpark Concessions

Union leaders have openly called on Red Sox supporters to attend the games but to refrain from buying food or beverages inside Fenway. “We’re asking you to NOT buy concessions inside the ballpark,” read union posts on social media. “Tailgate before the games!” Picket lines formed outside the park, with workers—many in uniform green T-shirts and carrying baseball-shaped picket signs—urging fans to support the cause. A giant inflatable rat, a traditional symbol of labor protest, loomed near the statues of Red Sox legends.

“I am surprised it came to this,” said Local 26 president Carlos Aramayo. “Our committee was certainly ready to negotiate. We are not anywhere near an agreement. I think Aramark pushed us into this situation and so we’re going to make this the most powerful strike we possibly can.”

At the heart of the union’s demands are wage increases to match or exceed similar venues—Fenway workers reportedly make less per hour than their counterparts in other cities—as well as resistance to increased automation such as self-checkout kiosks, which many see as a threat to their jobs and public safety.

Ballpark Experience: Changes and Contingency Plans

Aramark, Fenway’s food service contractor, maintains it has contingency plans in place to ensure “fans will not encounter service interruptions.” Video from inside Fenway showed that food and beverage stands remained open, staffed by replacement workers. Yet many attendees said they noticed a difference, with some workers appearing to be less experienced. Lines at stands were longer than usual, and some fans said they honored the picket line and purchased food elsewhere before the game.

Automation and the Conservative Angle

From a conservative vantage point, this strike underscores the rising tension between traditional American labor and sweeping trends in automation. Union representatives claim automated kiosks both threaten jobs and could lead to serious regulatory oversights—such as minors being sold alcohol or excessive serving to intoxicated patrons. At the same time, companies like Aramark say such technological innovations are necessary to deliver efficient, affordable service and stay competitive, especially amid higher wage pressures.

Wider Impact

The timing of the strike—at the height of summer and with the star-studded Dodgers facing the Red Sox—guaranteed that the action would be highly visible. Despite the disruptions, neither the Red Sox organization nor Aramark appears ready to budge, and fans are caught in the middle: supporting the workers who’ve served them for decades, or choosing convenience and tradition inside the park.

The strike is expected to persist through Sunday, after which the Red Sox head out of town. Whether it prompts meaningful change or simply marks a new normal for labor relations at America’s oldest major league ballpark, only time will tell. For now, one thing’s certain: the fight over peanuts and Cracker Jack has never been more symbolic at Fenway.