Rhode Island T.F. Green Airport food workers go on strike

WARWICK, R.I. — As thousands of soccer fans travel through New England for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, food and beverage workers at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport are officially on strike.

The walkout began early Thursday morning after UNITE HERE Local 26 and Grove Bay Concessions failed to reach a new labor agreement. The Florida-based company operates several food and beverage locations inside the airport.

According to the union, 73 employees are taking part in the strike. Workers say they’ve been without a contract since August 2025 and have gone nearly two years without a raise while the cost of living continues to climb.

The timing is significant for Rhode Island. Although the Ocean State is not hosting any World Cup matches, Providence is just a 30-minute drive from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, where several tournament games are being played. Thousands of visitors are staying in Rhode Island hotels and traveling through T.F. Green Airport as they make their way to and from the matches.

The strike will impact food and beverage service inside the airport during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Travelers will encounter limited food and drink options as visitors from around the world pass through Rhode Island.

With the eyes of the world on New England, the labor dispute is drawing attention to the experience visitors will have while traveling through the region during one of the biggest sporting events on the planet.

Negotiations are expected to continue, but there is no timeline for when the strike could end.