'People work to change the jobs they love': Service workers at Lambeau Field take steps towards unionizing
Service workers at Lambeau Field have taken steps towards forming a union with the help of Milwaukee labor organizers.
The Lambeau workers are employed by Delaware North, a food and beverage service contractor in partnership with the Green Bay Packers since 2012.
While many game-day positions at Lambeau concession stands are staffed by volunteer groups, about 70 Delaware North workers are also in the concourses selling food and beer to Packer fans and visitors.
Last spring, the workers reached out to Milwaukee Area Service & Hospitality Workers, who successfully helped staff at Fiserv Forum and the Pabst Theater win union recognition. Lambeau Field service workers formalized their request for union recognition in late September.
Lambeau Field vendors are organizing 'to change the jobs they love'
For Milwaukee Area Service & Hospitality Workers president Peter Rickman, why Lambeau vendors wanted to organize was clear.
"People leave the jobs they don't like," Rickman said, "and work to change the jobs they love."
Even though many of the Lambeau vendors work the stadium as a second job, Rickman said, they're passionate about Titletown guests having a good experience at the stadium.
He said some workers commute from Milwaukee for the chance to work at Lambeau Field. Others have worked Packer game days for decades. Without organizing, Rickman said, their jobs are at risk of changing for the worse.
He cited the Lambeau vendors' commission rates being cut in half as an example, as well as a feeling they're "just another person punching a clock for for the company."
"They want to see that the work that they do is respected and valued," Rickman said.
At this point, Rickman said, over 70% of Delaware North workers at Lambeau have supported the union by signing union authorization cards — 30% is needed to trigger an election, according to the National Labor Relations Board. They also formally notified Delaware North of their intent to pursue forming their union through memos sent on Sept. 22 and Oct. 2.
So far, he said Delaware North has not formally recognized the union. They also haven't requested that the union file a petition with the National Labor Relations Board, which authorizes unions to serve as workers' representatives in bargaining with employers.
Legally, he said, they have 14 days to respond from the time the memos were sent.
Delaware North has a history of negotiating with their workers' unions, so their silence has left the Lambeau Field vendors "a little confused," Rickman said. "As the clock keeps on ticking, it gets more and more awkward."
The Packers organization declined to comment and referred the Press-Gazette to Delaware North. Delaware North has not responded to the Press-Gazette's request for an interview.
For MASH Workers president, unionizing at Lambeau Field is a organizational, personal milestone
Rickman said helping the workers organize at Lambeau Field was important not only because of the workers' love for their jobs, but because of their ability to influence the way visitors to Lambeau Field experience the stadium.
He also pointed to the wider labor movement among hospitality workers.
"You can draw a line between the retired machinist working on Sundays at Lambeau slinging beer and the twenty-something worker at Starbucks in Manhattan," Rickman said.
He has personal connections to Lambeau, too. He said he's a Neenah native whose family still lives in the Fox Valley — and has Packers season tickets.
And, on top of that, it's the first time MASH Workers have helped workers outside Milwaukee start formalizing their union status.
Rebecca Loroff is a breaking and trending news reporter for northeastern Wisconsin. Contact her with story tips and feedback at rloroff@gannett.com.