Food and beverage workers staged a one-day strike at T.F. Green Airport on Thursday, shuttering some restaurants inside the terminal as they demanded higher wages.
Alecia Rogers, a server at the Narragansett Kitchen & Bar, began picketing at 3 a.m. when the morning shift began for the airport’s restaurants, which are operated by the Florida-based company Grove Bay Concessions.
“We haven’t had a raise in two years here,” Rogers said, “and the cost of living has gone up. Our paychecks have not, so I don’t think we’re asking for much.”
The workers’ union, UNITE HERE Local 26, is seeking a $0.50 raise in hourly wages for tipped workers and a $6 raise in hourly wages for non-tipped workers. All 73 union members refused to work on Thursday.
Yvonne Aguiar, another server at the Narragansett Kitchen & Bar, said many of her colleagues at the airport’s restaurants still earn minimum wage.
“I have multiple friends that are living in family situations, you know, because they just can’t get by,” Aguiar said. “It’s crazy.”
Grove Bay’s CEO, Francesco Balli, said in a prepared statement that the company has offered wage increases “ranging from 28% to 36% depending on the position over the life of the agreement.”
“We are disappointed the union has voted to walk out, but we respect their right to do so,” Balli said. “Our restaurants will continue operating to ensure uninterrupted service to our guests.”
Rogers said Grove Bay flew in replacement workers from Florida to staff as many of the airport’s restaurants as possible. The Narragansett Kitchen and Bar and a Dunkin’ Donuts remained open, she said, but the Federal Hill Italian Eatery & Bar was forced to close.
“I've heard from someone who was working in there that there were extremely long lines at Dunkin' Donuts,” Rogers said.
Seth Ogilvie, communications director for UNITE HERE Local 26, said the strike will end at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
“Everyone wants to get back to work,” Ogilvie said. “Hopefully Grove Bay will realize that every one of their 73 workers refused to break the picket line today.”
