The union representing Philadelphia’s stadium complex workers sent this advisory out, confirming a strike ahead of Tuesday’s Sixers/Pistons game at the Wells Fargo Center:

Whose fault is this? How did it come to this? I’m hearing that Doc Rivers is blaming the solar eclipse.

On a more serious note, it warms my heart to see in the press release that both Scabby the Rat AND the the Fat Cat are on scene. They’re bringing the inflatable big guns to South Philly. Maybe we send Pagan down for Man on the Street: union labor edition. Will this affect the Sixers’ playoff chances? Will the working media starve? Who runs the dishwasher? If we give the lazy, freeloading beat writers some dishwasher pods and an apron, does that qualify as crossing the picket line? Is it #ScabFlow at the Farg?

But yes, you are going to have to eat elsewhere tonight. Xfinity Live, Wawa, or your truck bed. Too bad Joey Merlino’s new cheesesteak shop isn’t open yet.

The striking workers are asking for healthcare and a system in which their hours are counted similarly across all of the arenas down there. A number of these folks go back and forth between the stadiums, essentially working full time-ish jobs, but without full time-ish benefits. That’s the heart of the issue.

EDIT –

Here’s a statement from an Aramark spokesperson, noting that food and drink will be available during the strike:

“Aramark remains committed to bargaining in good faith to reach a settlement that works for all parties.  Unfortunately, the union and its members have elected to commence a strike.  Aramark has contingency plans in place to ensure our services are not interrupted and that the fan experience remains strong.”