Fans attending events at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, N.Y. will soon get a chance to see Steelworkers in action.

Twenty-three merchandise sales vendors who work for Hockey Western New York recently voted to join the USW in District 4. The mail-in vote was counted and verified on May 19.

The vendors sell merchandise at Buffalo Sabres National Hockey League games, concerts and other special events. They work on straight commission and have good sales days and bad days.

Phil Proto, a member of the recently elected negotiating committee, said workers were prompted to organize when management twice unfairly capped the amount of money the workers were allowed to make at a single event.

To make matters worse, the new policy went into effect the day before one of the largest events in the history of the arena – the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

"We just did not think it was fair that they should cap the amount of money we could make. When they did it the first time, they got our attention. When they did it the second time, we felt we had to do something about it," Proto said.

The Steelworkers quick response to the workers’ request for information impressed the vendors.

"The Steelworkers were the first to respond, the first to meet with us and the first to follow through," Proto said.

The new USW members hope to soon begin negotiating a first contract.