Dodgers Stadium Tour Guides Leaflet Padres Game Amid Contract Negotiations

As seen in Variety

Baseball fans making the pilgrimage to Dodgers Stadium to watch their team face the San Diego Padres on Friday are seeing more than the usual security lines and ticket scanners at the entrance.

After unionizing last year, Dodgers Stadium tour guides are leafletting the game on Friday as their first contract negotiations with stadium management have stalled over wages and benefits issues. The tour guides, about 50 of whom are organized with IATSE B-192, have selected the high-profile match to bring more visibility to their bargaining difficulties.

“Despite their essential role, they’re being underpaid and unfairly treated,” the leaflets state of Dodgers tour guides. “At just $17.87 an hour, most workers struggle to afford food and rent in Los Angeles. Many are juggling multiple jobs just to scrape by.”

Dodgers Stadium offers an array of tours in Spanish, Japanese and English year-round, from pre-game saunters around the grounds to VIP tours to themed events (one tour is dedicated to Jackie Robinson, another to Fernando Valenzuela).

The leaflets further allege “union-busting” on the part of the Dodgers because in contract negotiations management has allegedly attempted to retract benefits like complimentary tickets, 401(k) plan eligibility for specific employees and the ability for guides to watch their team after a pre-game tour.