Bucks, MASH reach tentative agreement for Fiserv Forum workers

The Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to a tentative labor contract that includes a $15 minimum hourly wage for 1,000 workers at Fiserv Forum.

The agreement was reached after six months of negotiations between Deer District LLC, Levy Premium Foodservice and the arena’s employees, represented by Milwaukee Area Service & Hospitality (MASH) Workers group.

The $15 minimum hourly wage will go into effect in July, with cost of living adjustments and longevity pay increases expected throughout the three-and-a-half-year agreement. 

“These are industry-leading standard-setting agreements will put workers on a path to a living wage and give them the rights and respect that all workers deserve that only come through a union contract,” said Peter Rickman, president of MASH.

The Bucks and MASH publicly announced the agreement on Wednesday at a press conference.

“From day one we’ve promised that Fiserv Forum and the Deer District would be bigger than basketball and would create living-wage and long-lasting jobs for the Milwaukee community,” said Alex Lasry, senior vice president of the Milwaukee Bucks. “This partnership fulfills that promise and, more importantly, shows how much we value the hard work all those who have made Fiserv Forum one of the best places to work in Wisconsin and one of the top arenas in the country.”

Under the new agreement, Fiserv Forum workers will see their pay increase by two-thirds over the previous non-union operation, said Rickman, referring to the Bradley Center.

Workers have the opportunity to vote on the agreement before the contract goes into effect. Voting will close after the Bucks game on Friday and the outcome will be announced soon after, Rickman said.

“We fully anticipate strong endorsements from members voting yes, for the contracts to become effective immediately after the vote is concluded,” Rickman said.