SEIU Local 1 Reaches Fair Employment Agreement with Kansas City Royals for New Stadium Project, Supports YES Vote on April 2nd

KANSAS CITY, MO — Today, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1 reached a Fair Employment Agreement with the Kansas City Royals and now give full support to a Yes vote on the April 2nd ballot initiative that will keep the Royals in Jackson County and ensures Local 1 members who have worked at Kauffman Stadium and provided Kansas City Royals fans with memorable game day experiences for decades can continue to receive the pay, benefits, and respect they deserve.

SEIU Local 1 had been engaging in negotiations with the Kansas City Royals for months, and this finalized agreement makes certain that the labor aspects of any new stadium fairly reward the hard work and dedication Local 1 members have given to Royals and their fans by ensuring transfer rights for Union workers and additional protections for any potential worker displacement. The agreement also guarantees a fair path to Unionization for currently non-Union workers who seek to newly organize a Union, and commits to continued discussions around a living wage floor for all workers within the new stadium development. 

“Today is a great day for the working people who have made sure the Kansas City Royals gameday experience lives up to the standards fans expect,” said Chris Rak, SEIU Local 1 Director for Missouri and Southern Illinois. “Local 1 members have been a part of the Kansas City Royals baseball for many years, some of whom have worked at Kauffman Stadium since the 1970s. It was only right they be rewarded for their dedication with a Fair Employment Agreement that does right by them and their families.”

“We are proud of our part in providing Royals fans with the best experience in baseball,” said Vanessa Coleman, SEIU Local 1 Chief Steward for Kauffman and Arrowhead Stadiums and long-time stadium concessions worker. “This agreement continues our productive collaboration with the Royals. We are excited to endorse Question 1, which will enhance that collaboration and provide Royals fans an even better experience.”

Local 1 looks forward to continued discussions with the Royals as to how their new stadium development project can positively impact Kansas City’s working families and urges voters to vote YES on April 2nd.