Convention center may look for new food service

The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority said that it has notified Aramark Corp. that it is looking for someone else to provide food and beverage services at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and the John B. Hynes Veteans Memorial Convention Center.

While Aramark has held the $27 million concessions contract since 1997, the authority "consistently has been concerned with the quality and level of service provided" since early 2005, the authority's executive director, James E. Rooney wrote in the letter to Aramark, a concessions company headquartered in Philadelphia.

Additionally, Rooney told the Globe that Amarak has not effectively managed relations with its union, which picketed both convention centers for three days last month to protest several of its contract-negotiation members being fired last year.

Aramark's contract with Unite Here Local 26, which represents more than 300 food and beverage workers, expired in October.

Rooney plans to recommend a course of action to the convention center authority's board in September for changes that would be implemented in January.

Aramark and union spokespeople could not be immediately reached for comment

(The photo above was taken from the convention center authority's website. According to the caption, it shows the interior of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center during a recent auto show.)
(By Nicole C. Wong, Globe staff)