Union kicks off negotiations with Fiserv Forum contractors
Members and supporters of the Mil-waukee Area Service and Hospitality Workers Organization rallied Thursday on the Deer District Plaza before entering initial negotiations with Fiserv Forum contractors for higher wages.
The union, referred to as MASH, met with Levy Premium Foodservice for three hours to hash out initial grounds for a contract improving workplace conditions for the arena’s food service employees. Among their demands is a $15 minimum wage by 2023. Workers now make between $13 and $16 per hour.
MASH Executive Director Peter Rickman said “not one dime in profit would be made without the labor” of the service and hospitality workers fueling the arena, and voiced solidarity with industry workers outside the Deer District.
“This is a sector that disproportionately employs people of color and women — folks who have been left behind by an economy that is geared toward the people who buy the suites and the season tickets but leave us behind,” he said.
Union negotiator Christophor Rick, who works as a premium bartender at the arena’s exclusive BMO Club, said his workplace is “a great place to people watch” and exemplifies issues workers want the contact to solve.
“You got rich, powerful politicians rubbing elbows with professional sports players. You got top-notch attorneys talking basketball defense with local business owners,” he said. “The problem is that sometimes they never even care to remember our names, and management doesn’t help us get the respect that we deserve. They rarely even treat us with respect, themselves.”
Thursday’s meeting with Levy
Premium Foodservice was productive and went “quite well,” according to Rickman.
Fiserv Forum employees who work in customer service, operations and security begin bargaining with Deer District LLC on Friday.
Though formed last year, a new spotlight has been cast on the union after the Democratic National Committee named Milwaukee the location for its convention next summer. And restaurants and hotels worry they don’t have enough workers to serve the 50,000 people who will flood the city for the four-day convention.
While visiting the city Thursday, Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez voiced his support for the MASH union.
“I think part of the reason we chose Milwaukee is we know that they understand the importance of making sure that workers are treated with dignity,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any issue that can’t be resolved without sit-down at the bargaining table and understanding the issues and rolling up our sleeves and figuring it out.”
Several local government officials attended Thursday’s rally before the union entered negotiations, including Ald. Bob Bauman who spoke at the rally.
Also in attendance was state Rep. Jo-Casta Zamarripa. Before the union headed into negotiations, she spoke about her family’s experience working in the service and hospitality industries, calling the union’s fight for a contract meeting its demands “personal” for her.
“I stand with you,” she said during the rally. “I got your back . ... Get the dignity, respect and livable wage that you deserve.”