SEIU Local 1 Union Workers at Kauffman Stadium File Federal Charges Against Kansas City Royals

These filed charges come after more than six months of contract negotiations

Kansas City, MO — Workers at Kauffman Stadium – home to the Kansas City Royals – have filed federal charges with the National Labor Relations Board against the Kansas City Royals Baseball Club, alleging intimidation, harassment, and bad faith bargaining during the protracted contract negotiations, which started late last year.

"We deserve respect. We deserve transparency from the Royals. And when they enter into a legal agreement with our Union, they are obligated to honor that. But they are now trying to break their agreements," said a Tollbooth Attendant who has worked at Kauffman Stadium for close to twenty years. "I feel like the Royals are holding themselves above the law, which is part of why we have filed these charges. They have to be held accountable."

The Kansas City Royals employ close to 500 SEIU Local 1 workers – including Ushers, Tollbooth Attendants, Ticket Takers, Parking Lot Attendants, Restroom Attendants, and Ticket Sellers – who work 81 games games per year, in addition to special events, under a collective bargaining agreement.

"During one of our first bargaining sessions, a Kansas City Royals executive told me that if I didn't “behave myself", she would make sure I didn't see my season ticket holders and my fellow workers,” said one member of the Union bargaining team. “I tried to take it as a joke at the time. But with how we're treated now, it has finally hit home - it wasn't a joke."

"The worst part is how this has affected our work. This used to be a fun place to work but now, everybody feels apprehensive. You don't know if you say something about our Union, they're going to lash out at you. But we all go above and beyond, and we deserve to be respected," said a Ticket Taker who has served at Royals Stadium for more than 25 years.

Local 1 workers who have served on the Union bargaining team for a decade, on average, say that this year’s negotiations have been unnecessarily “dragged out” by the Royals management team, consisting primarily of new executives brought in by owner John Sherman after he purchased the team in late 2019.

"I have served on the bargaining committee for close to a decade. In previous years, we set a date and then negotiated fairly. This year, the Royals have dragged their feet. They have delayed meetings. They have canceled meetings. They have not bargained in good faith, as far as I'm concerned. They have not taken us seriously,” said one member of the Union bargaining committee.

Despite this controversy, the Kansas City Royals are moving forward with their plan to build a new taxpayer-funded $2 billion stadium, and have resisted calls to negotiate a community benefits agreement with a coalition of local labor and community groups. Workers at Kauffman Stadium wonder if the Royals are up to the task of partnering with taxpayers on a new stadium if they are unwilling to fairly negotiate with their own employees.

"It is distressing for us to hear, 'You can't have a livable wage but we will get you a new stadium downtown,’" said a Tollbooth Attendant who has served the Kansas City Royals for more than fifteen years.

Ultimately, Local 1 believes the outcome of these negotiations, including whether the Royals can maintain their agreements over the next three seasons, is of interest to the public.

“I think the public is paying attention to what happens with these negotiations and will be watching to see if the Royals are willing to make good on their promises,” said Christian Rak, Missouri Director of SEIU Local 1. “If the Royals stick to their agreements with working families, great. But if not, that is going to be a factor in whether or not the public will support this new stadium project. Community members are watching and the lack of collaboration and cooperation with working people isn’t going unnoticed.”

Despite these events, SEIU Local 1 workers remain hopeful about the future.

“It’s really about the fans,” said one Local 1 worker. “We trust the NLRB to fairly handle these charges and we even trust the Royals to finally come to agreement on a good, fair contract - so we’re still focusing on delivering the best fan experience possible.”

Talks resume next week as SEIU Local 1 and the Kansas City Royals come together for a final bargaining session over their wages for the next three years.

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Service Employees International Union Local 1 unites 45,000 workers throughout the Midwest, including janitors, security officers, airport workers, higher education faculty, food service 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.