Philadelphia, PA – April 9, 2024
Tonight’s game at the Wells Fargo Center faces disruption as workers employed by Aramark, a leading food and beverage service provider, have initiated a strike in demand for better wages and healthcare coverage. The strike, organized by UNITE HERE Philly Local 274, is part of a broader campaign aimed at securing family-sustaining wage increases and comprehensive healthcare benefits.
Tristan Bussiere, a concessions worker at the Wells Fargo Center, expressed the frustrations driving the strike: “Prices keep rising at the stadium, but our wages aren’t increasing. It’s not just at the stadium; prices are going up everywhere.” Bussiere emphasized the need for sufficient income to cover basic expenses such as groceries, rent, and bills.
Aramark, a multibillion-dollar corporation headquartered in Philadelphia, has seen substantial revenue growth, reporting over 15% revenue growth in 2023. Despite this, workers like Briana Postell, a single mother of two and an Aramark concessions worker, are struggling to make ends meet. Postell stressed the importance of a wage increase for the financial security of her family and the necessity of healthcare coverage.
Currently, Aramark treats employees’ hours worked at each building separately, leading to disparities in benefits such as healthcare coverage. The union argues that workers performing the same jobs for the same employer should receive equal benefits regardless of the venue.
