Hockey fans heading to General Motors Place tonight to watch the Canucks take on the Los Angeles Kings will have to dodge a picket line.

More than 700 concession workers, cooks and event staff at the downtown Vancouver arena are staging a one-day strike. They walked off the job Friday morning to back demands for higher wages.

Union representative Robert Demand days the one-day strike is meant to send a strong message to Aramark.

"We want this to be a wake up call," he said.

"The company needs to respect the people who work here in the kitchens, the dining rooms, the concessions. They've been stalling job negotiations for three months."

Currently, the average hourly wage for concession workers hovers at around $11.

"It really comes down to respect," said B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair.

"There are over 700 people that serve you all those expensive hot dogs down there and if you feel ripped off. Well, they're ripping off the workers too"

Negotiations between workers and Aramark collapsed Thursday night.

The union is hoping to secure higher wages for workers, as well as better job security. There are fears the workers will lose their jobs during the 2010 Games, when it is anticipated Olympic organizers will bring in contract staff for several weeks.

"We are the person who knows the venue," said concession stand worker Mariquita Santiago.

"We don't want any temporary or volunteer workers to work for that event."

The members of Unite Here local 40 will not stop fans from entering the stadium for Friday night's game, but they are asking spectators to boycott concession stands. Under a Labour Relations Board ruling Wednesday, the stands will be staffed by managers from the company.

Harvey Jones, the VP of arena operations at GM Place, says the ruling also means picketers can't block public entrances to the facility.

"So broadcasters, contractors and people involved in producing the game will get in the building," said Jones. "The game will go ahead."

In addition to decreased concession services, the stadium's two restaurants will also be closed. Jones says the rules will be relaxed at the facility during the strike.

"We're not encouraging it, but we won't turn people away if they bring their own drinks."

Pickets are expected to come down at the end of the day.