Hundreds of concession workers at Oracle Park in San Francisco could go on strike this weekend after multiple workers have become infected with COVID-19, officials with the union representing the workers said Thursday.
If the workers vote to strike on Saturday, workers could possibly walk off the job just before the San Francisco Giants game against the Los Angeles Dodgers scheduled for that evening.
Union officials with Unite Here Local 2 allege that although food service contractor Bon Appetit Management assured the workers that Oracle Park would be a safe environment when it reopened at full capacity in June, indoor mask mandates and social distancing protocols aren’t being enforced at the park, including at concourse concession stands and private suites.
Since the park reopened, more than 20 workers tested positive for COVID-19, union officials said.
With mask requirements allegedly going unenforced and an uptick in COVID-19 cases, the workers are demanding hazard pay of an extra $3 per hour.
In addition, because workers have to work 10 events per month to qualify for health care but only have nine events scheduled for some of the coming months, the workers are asking Bon Appetit to lower the threshold for health care eligibility to nine events per month.
“These corporations’ approach to workers and fans’ safety during this latest surge of COVID-19 is completely inadequate and dangerously irresponsible,” Unite Here Local 2 president Anand Singh said in a statement.
“Our members have carried on through this pandemic without fair compensation and security in our health insurance, while the Giants have continued to reap profits. We are ready to fight for our health, our safety, and for justice at the ballpark,” Singh said.
Workers are set to vote on the strike on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Bon Appetit Management did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
23 comments
Let them strike. They are not important. Bunch of low class bums using the HOAX like everyone else. Don’t give in, they ain’t heroes
It’s not about safety at all. It’s about what it is always about, money; and Singh just admitted it when he said the Giants are reaping profits, and so they want their fair share of compensation. STRIKE AWAY!
good riddance! no one watches MLB anyway. just a bunch social justice warrior losers.
No one watches MLB? Did you know that baseball is in the top 2 of overall revenue for sports in the US?
Lol… democrats and numbers. Top 2 of nothing is still nothing. When will you learn?? Oh that’s right…NEVER🤣🤣🤣🤣🤡
Everything woke turns to s**t
– President Donald J. Trump
Well if you are stupid enough to go to work in a stadium filled with people probably half of them with covid-19, then what do you expect…
Bold move for an occupation easily replaced by a coin-op machine.
How are they being tested there is no true test for covid we know the PCR tests are a joke they’ve been recalled so how do they know they have covid headlines are one thing facts are something entirely different
So many issues/problems (as I see it) with this whole thing. Strike and lose your job is the stance I would take. How many workers/employees are there in the stadium, during a game? What percentage does 20 represent? Over 2 months time? Also, they tested positive; were they symptomatic, or just a positive test? “workers have to work 10 events per month to qualify for health care but only have nine events scheduled for some of the coming months, the workers are asking Bon Appetit to lower the threshold for health care eligibility to nine events per month.” this, I think, is the key, they want more bennies. I get it, and if the job they do merits these bennies, fine. If management is playing with the numbers, ensuring no more than 9 events are worked, well, I am sorry, that is business. Look for a new gig. I, and countless others, have left a job that they felt they were not being compensated appropriately for.
Excellent post.
There are many professions where people are at a much higher RISK for contracting Covid than others. Think a non-union shop like FED-EX cares about their workers and delivery drivers?
Think again.
.
Terminate the union contract and hire independent .
workers.
.
Call their bluff. Every place go there are help wanted signs. I hope WOKE does not raise it’s ugly head again. If they yell loud enough they will probably get their way. Sign of a unglued America !
The fact that there are help wanted signs everywhere means that the workers have the power and should be fighting for what they feel is fair pay. It’s about time America woke up and realized that there is more to life than slaving away and being a “good” little worker. This idea that you should put your head down, work hard, and stay loyal to a company is complete BS. Companies are quick to let people go to save a few pennies to make earnings but employees can’t complain about wages or band together for better working conditions?
If there is one good thing that came out of COVID is that it has empowered the people when it comes to their jobs. Never in a million years would my company and many other company’s have allowed working from home. Now companies are losing talented people because they want to get everyone back into the office and go back to the way things were before. Food and retailers can no longer take advantage and pay nothing wages to people. If In-N-Out and Costco can pay good wages and offer benefits and still have decent prices then why can’t other large retailers and fast food chains?
Why do you people keep defending the rich and not support people like yourselves in getting a better standard of living. Jeff above made a great point (I haven’t verified his information) that it doesn’t seem fair that the workers aren’t eligible for health benefits in certain months because there is 1 less game. The minimum should be the minimum amount of games during the season for the month.
The fact that people who hand out hot dogs have a union is a bit ridiculous. Bank tellers don’t even have a union and they care for your money.
Ummmm…. the Unite Here 2 Local Union represents 14,000 members in the hospitality business in SF and San Mateo County.
They are housekeepers, dishwashers, food servers, bartenders, cooks, and bellman at hotels, restaurants, cafeterias, stadiums, and the SFO Airport.
STRIKE AWAY!!! Get that money from those rich money grubbers.
Did they catch the virus at work or outside of work? Makes a big difference.
How stupid they’re willing to make $3 an hour more to catch Covid..
Bdpirate
Look they sell hot dogs for a living. At least they will work.
When the government pays your rent and wages McDonald’s is hiring fourteen and fifteen year olds in Medford Ore. That’s Marxism for you. Pretty soon child labor laws may have to kick in again. Look none of us want to hawk hot dogs at the ball park so be easy on them.
The Oracle Park concession workers have a union? That, in itself, is just another example of why California, especially the Bay Area, is a basket case.
They are unskilled and easily replaced. Oh, I see. That’s exactly why they have a union.
9-10 events per month….i am assuming this is not a full time job, i know a lot of people that do it for a little extra cash, but to think you are going to be making a living wage hawking food….c’mon man…
I took the training (you can too) I’m currently authorized to acquire hot dogs and beer from the snack bar or vending machine without any assistance.
Praise the ______(icon of your choice)
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