Tag: Bon Appetit

Possible work stoppage for Giants opening day 2026 by ballpark workers podcast: Aramark technology expansion could slash jobs at Oracle Park

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Concession stands service employees at Oracle Park could be replaced by auto robots according to Local 2 Unite Here employees (photo by On Labor)

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–Aramark, the official food and concessions supplier for the San Francisco Giants, is reportedly set to add more kiosks and other self-serve technology at concession stands throughout Oracle Park next season, according to sources at UNITED HERE Local 2, the union that represents employees of Aramark at Oracle Park.

At the start of this season, Aramark introduced Mashgin AI self-checkout kiosks for fans to access at Oracle Park. They were established at a new Doggie Diner Express stand on the promenade level behind section 112, as well as at nine Bayside Brews beverage markets located throughout the ballpark.

It now appears that this technology will expand to other locations in the ballpark next season. If it goes through, it could put the jobs of many of Aramark’s employees in jeopardy.

Aramark replaced Bon Appetit as the official food supplier for the Giants in 2024. However, UNITED HERE Local 2 and its employees have been a consistent presence serving Giants’ fans at Oracle Park for many years. Many of the workers were serving food at the ballpark, even for Bon Appetit’s predecessor, Center Plate.

Self-technology has been a contentious issue for the union and its workers going back to the fall of 2021. In September 2021, then-Bon Appetit workers authorized a strike over the working conditions at Oracle Park, following the return of fans to the park during the Covid Pandemic. A strike was averted, and another collective bargaining agreement was reached in March 2024.

We had a chance to interview Rhonda Mitchell Unite Here Union Local 2 who talked about the auto robots who are planned to replace food service workers at Oracle Park. Mitchell says that if this comes to fruition there could be a work stoppage that could threaten the Giants home opener in 2026.

In an interview with Local 2 Unite Here Oracle Park Shop Steward Rhonda S Mitchell she discussed the possibility of using auto robots to replace food service workers at Oracle Park:

#1 How much of the food services is being earmarked for auto replacement of the food service people.

#2 Aramark says they refuse to agree on future limits on automation. If that’s going to be iron clad what recourse does the union have.

#3 Under Bon Appetit same union Local 2 that last time the union had to call for a work stoppage.
An alleged offer of a 25-cent raise to San Francisco Giants’ concession workers is outdated information from September 2021. The offer was rejected by unionized workers, who authorized a strike against the food service contractor, Bon Appétit Management, and the Giants over wage and safety issues. The dispute was ultimately settled with a more substantial agreement. The food service workers actually blocked an aisle at Oracle Park to demonstrate the Bon Appetite 25 cent raise.

#4 How much influence or how much say does the Giants have in the idea of having robot auto food servers or what they expect from labor at the park?

#5 If Aramark were to get their way and install the auto robots talk about how much this impact workers and their families and benefits. I’m sure when the Oakland A’s moved from Oakland a lot of those workers were impacted by losing those jobs?

Stephen Ruderman was a San Francisco Giants beat writer for the 2025 season at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: Cole, Yankees hanging their heads after Wild Card loss; SF Giants avoided a huge concession stand strike for playoffs; plus much more

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Losing pitcher of record Gerrit Cole delivers to the Boston Red Sox line up in the first inning during the ALWC game on Tue Oct 10, 2021 at Fenway Park in Boston (AP News photo)

On Headlines with Jessica:

#1 Jessica, You had a chance to see last night’s Wild Card game between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox just how shocked was this good hitting potent team the Yankees that they only could manufacture just two runs in the 6-2 one and done loss to the Sox in Boston on Tuesday night.

#2 Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole was pulled he coughed up a Kyle Schwaber home run in the third inning. Cole said that he’s sick to his stomach over his poor outing going two innings, four hits, three runs, two walks and three strike outs.

#3 The San Francisco Giants are in the NL Division Series playoffs and will be hosting the series at Oracle Park in San Francisco which starts on Friday. What made a national story was Oracle park concessionaires Bon Appetit were planning to walk out at the beginning of the playoff meaning this Friday. That was averted when both labor and Bon Appetit management came to an agreement giving concession employees a $3 retroactive raise which covers this and the last two years, a $1.50 in hazard pay that also covered the last two years and increases that will total $7 an hour by 2024. The concession staff currently makes over $20.00 an hour.

#4 The Brooklyn Nets Kyrie Irving is still unclear whether he will take the Covid 19 vaccine but the pressure is on with opening day for the regular season around the corner. If Irving does not get vaccinated he will not be allowed to play any of the Nets home games at Barclay Center in Brooklyn until he does gets that first shot.

#5 Jessica, the San Diego Padres fired manager Jayce Tingler after he served two seasons with the Padres. The Padres at one time were within striking distance to get the second spot in the Wild Card standings but ended up not being able to seal the deal. Strong possibility to replace Tingler is former San Francisco Giant manager Bruce Bochy who led the Giants three World Series championships.

Join Jessica for Headline Sports every other Wednesday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Giants cutting it close with Dodgers for division race; Giant vendors agree to negotiate before going on strike

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Local 2 union members and employees of Bon Appetit stand outside of Oracle Park in San Francisco before Sun Sep 5th’s Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants game. Employees agreed not to strike on Sunday and will negotiate with management during the week. (photo from twitter.com/UniteHereLocal2/)

On the Giants podcast with Marko:

#1 The Giants are in the middle of a nick and tuck battle for the NL West with the Los Angeles Dodgers during the most recent series the Giants and Dodgers exchanged sitting in first place.

#2 The Giants with their recent Covid 19 issues that involved pitchers Alex Wood and Johnny Cueto. Infielder Donovan Solano has returned from the Covid IL list and played shortstop on Saturday, Alex Dickerson joined the Injured List with a hamstring strain on Saturday and is out for ten days.

#3 Recent discussion about former San Francisco Giant Will Clark to be put on the ballot and in the Hall of Fame. Clark who played with the Giants, Baltimore Orioles, St Louis Cardinals, and Texas Rangers hit .303, had 2176 hits, 284 home runs, and 1205 RBIs. The Baseball Writers of America remember Clark mainly with the Giants he almost made the Hall of Fame ballot in 2006 and was voted down in 2018 by a Veteran’s Committee Today’s Game ballot.

#4 Giants food service concessionaires Bon Appetit employees has voted to go on strike because workers say they haven’t had a raise in two years they make $20.75 an hour are asking for a $3 raise, they want Covid-19 protection, health care. During the last contract negotiation between then Centerplate employees and Centerplate management the employees in 2013 who were making $10.25 an hour and were offered a 25 cent raise at the time. The Giants said in 2013 and 2021 the negotiations concession employees are between then and Bon Appetit management.

#5 Employees are pushing for more safety protection because fans are not wearing masks when they come to make their purchases at the concession stands Union Local 2 reported that 20 employees had been infected since the stadium reopened in June and need more PPE protection. The strike was supposed to take place Sunday but was called off as employees agreed to negotiate this week. The Giants have two more home stands left.

Marko Ukalovic is filling in for Morris Phillips who does the Giants podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com