They're management, we're labor."
Smith was attempting to counter an unpopular belief: that the sports unions do not require or offer the same kind of solidarity as unions that are larger and comprise less-income laborers, such as healthcare workers' unions, teacher's unions as well as in the case unions like UNITE HERE -- the union behind the protesthospitality, transportation, and Madden 23 coins manufacturing workers throughout the country. He spoke out in support the current public escalation by UNITE HERE of a six-day strike on the Miami Airport by airline catering workers who have been fighting for fair pay and health benefits for more than one year.
"When we get people like who are part of Madden NFL 23PA to support us and draw a connection with what the players face and it is clear that at the end of it all, we're still being a fight against the boss." adds Diana Hussein, a communications specialist at UNITE HERE.
"This week will be one of the largest parties around the globe," Smith told the crowd. "But behind every flight and party are those who work to put food on their families' tables. To American people who are schlepping people into Miami to watch Super Bowl? Super Bowl, shame on you for not providing a living wage."
Miami is one of the major American Airlines hub, and American is one of the largest clients of the catering company LSG Sky Chefs, whose 20.000 workers nationally are represented through UNITE HERE. This means that Super Bowl week was a perfect time for workers to press the airline and its subcontractor, who have gotten around the latest living wage laws for Miami airport employees.
LSG Sky Chefs employees make an average of $10 per hour, with madden 23 coins cheap about $100 a week deducted when they wish to have access to health coverage (which is not enough).