Some MLSE workers set to strike

TORONTO – Approximately 600 workers at the Air Canada Centre and Real Sports Bar are walking off the job Friday after voting overwhelmingly to strike.

The Teamsters Local 8847 voted 82 per cent in favour of a strike.

Fernanda Santos, the local’s president-elect, said the workers are striking for better wage, equality of wages and retroactive pay back to July when their contract expired.

“Everybody is out,” she said. “The kitchen is out, the housekeeping out, the conversion is out, the warehouse is out, the services are out, the bartenders are out. How can it be business as usual?”

But Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment spokespeople say fans won’t be affected by the strike, which largely affects workers at Real Sports Bar and Grill and E11even at the ACC. A sign posted outside of E11even said the restaurant will be closed “indefinitely due to a work stoppage.”

Also striking are workers who convert the ACC floor from hardwood used during the Toronto Raptors games to ice used for Toronto Maple Leafs games.

MLSE spokesperson Dave Haggith told Global News outside contractors have been brought in to convert the floor and Saturday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks will not be affected.