Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Food service workers at Oracle Park, where the San Francisco Giants play, voted 96.7% in favor of authorizing a strike, and members began signing up for picket duties. However, the pressure of the strike led management at Bon Appetit to agree to a transformative new contract. Nearly 1,000 workers will benefit from increased COVID-19 safety measures, affordable and inclusive health care for workers and their families, a $7-an-hour pay raise, improved hazard pay and bigger pensions.
“In my 32 years working food service at Giants games, I’ve been witness to so much history,” said Deborah Torrano, a member of the negotiating committee and a suite attendant at Oracle Park. “And now we’ve made history, too. We were ready to strike, and now our lives will change.”
The food service workers are members of UNITE HERE Local 2, and they stuck together in solidarity. Now they can focus on the upcoming baseball playoffs and not have to worry about safety and security.
“Ballpark workers’ fierce, determined leadership has paid off,” said Anand Singh, president of Local 2. “Workers got organized and were ready to strike, and they won a life-changing deal. Bon Appetit stepped up and set an industry standard for safe, family-sustaining jobs.”