Target Field workers to strike during Noah Kahan show

Target Field concession workers have announced a one-day strike set for Wednesday at the sold-out Noah Kahan concert.

The labor action follows a similar one in June when the Twins played the Los Angeles Dodgers. According to UNITE HERE Local 17, many fans were still waiting to get into Target Field in the third inning due to the strike.

Delaware North, the company that manages concession stands at Target Field, said the venue will be fully staffed for the Noah Kahan show.

Union Secretary-Treasurer Sheigh Freeberg doesn’t believe the company’s claims.

“Last time they said the exact same thing,” Freeberg said. “They said it will be exactly the same. It will be totally, fully staffed, but that’s not the truth.”

He added that stands were not open or were not set up. “Fans had a terrible experience waiting for an extremely long time,” he said.

Freeberg called it “bravado” from the company.

The union and the concessions vendor have been in negotiations since March.

Delaware North said in a statement they offered non-tipped, part-time workers a $20 an hour wage and a health care plan, comparable with other venues in town.

“The union is in agreement that the employers finally made movement on the first year’s wages. They have agreed to move a good number of people to $20 an hour,” Freeberg said. He added that it is about 300 members.

Both sides also don’t agree on who is considered non-tipped.

“Along with that, in the second year and the third year of the contract, they’re only proposing 75-cent wage increases, which is pretty minimal given how much everything costs and how high inflation is,” he said.

Freeberg also said the health care proposal would only apply to about 10 out of the union’s 500 concession and hospitality workers.