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Concessions workers at Target Field are on strike Monday, for the first time in the stadium’s history.

The union representing the workers is demanding fair wages and health insurance. It’s also asking fans not to cross the picket line to buy food or drinks during the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

About 50 workers were picketing near Gate 34, one of the stadium’s main entrances, before the game. The crowd appeared to be growing as fans began arriving.

Adam Schreifels works as a bartender in one of Target Field’s suites. He said he has worked at the stadium for 10 years.

“You know, $15 beers, $20 hamburgers — they can't even pay people a decent wage, and that's really why all of us are here.” Schreifels said. “I mean, you have multi-billion-dollar owners, you have a multi-billion-dollar company, you have multi-million dollar players. We just want our piece of the pie for helping create a good fan experience.”

Schreifels said fans who paid to watch the game from the suites will likely notice the shortage of concessions workers.

The workers are employed by Delaware North, not the team. The company brought in contingent workers to fill in for more than 100 employees picketing. 

Delaware North Sports Service general manager Peter Spike said the company has met with the union about five times this year, with another negotiating session scheduled for Tuesday morning. He said they are stuck on wages, health insurance and a pension proposal.

“I'm hopeful that when the union comes to the table with us in the morning, they have some counteroffers to our offers,” Spike said. “We have made movement on the on the wage scale. The union has not made any movement on the wage scale. They're still tied to the original proposal for March. So I'm hoping that we see some movement, because I'd love to have my friends back in the ballpark helping me take care of these great fans in Twins territory.”

Roxy Hoda works concessions at Target Field during Twins games, concerts and other events. She said she wants the company to offer workers like her health insurance.

“For me and my partner, we rely on the marketplace for health insurance, both being hospitality professionals,” Hoda said. “Three years ago, we were paying $800 a month, not including deductibles and whatnot, which was expensive, but it was doable. But now that amount has almost tripled and our monthly amount for insurance for the two of us and our two children is almost as much as our mortgage and has become very unaffordable.”

UNITE HERE Local 17 represents about 500 concessions workers. More than 80 percent voted in May to authorize the strike. 

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Target Field concessions workers are striking during Monday’s Twins-Dodgers game, demanding higher wages and affordable health insurance while asking fans not to buy food or drinks at the stadium.

Target Field workers strike during Twins-Dodgers game

Workers on strike march in front of a gate for Target Field.

Target Field workers strike during Twins-Dodgers game

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