Some 600 workers employed by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, many at the Air Canada Centre, are going on strike.
The move comes after members of local 847 of the Teamsters Union, which represents the workers, voted down their latest contract offer.
According to union officials, the dispute revolves around hours and wages.
The affected union members include restaurant staff, housekeeping staff and workers responsible for converting the hard court to ice.
The strike means that two popular venues around the ACC owned by MLSE – Real Sports Bar & Grill and e11even – will be closed.
However an MLSE spokesperson said the “fan experience” at the ACC would not be impacted by the strike. A Raptors game Friday night and a Leafs game set for Saturday night would be going ahead, as well as all other planned events, the company said.
A number of big acts are set to play the ACC in the coming days, including Rod Stewart on Sunday and Beyoncé on Monday.
According to the union, negotiations have been going on for six months between the union and MLSE. Union members voted 82 per cent in favour of rejecting the latest contract offer, a union official said.
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