SEIU Local 1 Essential Workers At Kauffman Stadium Win Strong New Contract Ahead of Opening Day

This new contract comes as SEIU Local 1 essential workers prepare for upcoming negotiations for nearly 800 downtown Kansas City janitors.

Kansas City– SEIU Local 1 essential workers who run concession and retail throughout Kauffman Stadium have ratified a strong new contract that guarantees the good raises and better benefits they need to support their families. This comes ahead of Opening Day as the Kansas City Royals play against the Cleveland Guardians and thousands of fans return to the stadium.

“We work hard to ensure that baseball fans and their families can have a fun and enjoyable time while rooting for their favorite teams, but we often go home to communities that are struggling.” said Derek Devito, an SEIU Local 1 food vendor at Kauffman Stadium. “With this new contract and the higher wages and stronger benefits we bargained for, our families and communities won a better future.”

The new three-year union contract guarantees:

• Significant wage increases for all workers, with many now on a path to $15 an hour while inflation across the country rises;

• Commissions for food vendors increases to 20.5 percent of all sales and commissions for beer vendors also increases;

• More inclusive non-discrimination language;

• Juneteenth is now a paid holiday.

SEIU Local 1 members will now shift gears and focus on upcoming contract negotiations for nearly 800 downtown Kansas City janitors. These front-line essential workers have been working tirelessly throughout the pandemic keeping residents safe and are key in ensuring our region’s recovery from this crisis.

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Service Employees International Union Local 1 unites 50,000 workers throughout the Midwest, including janitors, security officers, higher education faculty, food service workers, airport workers and others. Local 1 is committed to improving the lives of its members and all working people by winning real economic justice and standing at the forefront of the fight for immigrant, racial and environmental justice.