Red Sox Fans Advised to Buy Food and Drinks Outside Fenway Park Ahead of Potential Strike.

Boston Red Sox fans are encouraged to purchase food and drinks outside Fenway Park as concession workers threaten to go on strike for the first time in the 113-year history of the ballpark. The workers, represented by UNITE HERE Local 26, are seeking higher wages, better scheduling, and limits on automation. The strike is set to begin during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.

Concession workers at Fenway Park are threatening to go on strike for the first time in the ballpark's 113-year history. The workers, represented by UNITE HERE Local 26, have set a deadline of noon on Friday for Aramark to meet their demands, which include higher wages, improved scheduling, and limits on automation [1]. If no agreement is reached, the strike is set to begin during a crucial game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The union has been negotiating with Aramark since their previous contract expired seven months ago. Workers have expressed concerns that self-checkout kiosks are reducing human interaction and potentially compromising safety at the park. They have also asked for increased tips for premium workers and scheduling that respects seniority [2].

Aramark has stated that they have contingency plans in place to ensure that fans will not encounter service interruptions if a strike occurs. The Boston Red Sox organization is monitoring the situation but is not directly involved in the negotiations [3].

The union is encouraging fans to support striking workers by refraining from purchasing food or drinks inside the park. The strike would coincide with the Red Sox's homestand against the Dodgers, which includes three games starting on Friday at 7:10 p.m. [4].

The strike threat comes amidst a busy weekend for Fenway Park, with the Red Sox facing one of the best teams in the league. The outcome of the negotiations will determine whether fans experience disruptions during the games this weekend [5].

References:
[1] https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/fenway-concession-workers-strike-deadline-today/3776484/
[2] https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/fenway-concession-workers-threaten-go-strike-ahead-red-sox-dodgers-weekend-series/VQOW35BZ5NGFFKWEOKARTWJNGY/
[3] https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/deadline-day-fenway-park-concession-workers-are-just-hours-away-going-strike/WFG7ACK5YJGZRCWJA5EJXJH5WU/
[4] https://patch.com/massachusetts/boston/fenway-park-workers-union-says-strike-imminent-asks-boston-red-sox-fans-not-buy
[5] https://95wxtk.iheart.com/content/2025-07-24-fenway-park-workers-plan-to-strike-tomorrow/