A strike looms among concession workers at Oracle Park.
This, as an authorization for a Union strike was voted among hundreds of Union workers who are represented by “UNITE HERE Local 2”.
Most of the workers, which account to 97 percent in total, agreed to strike over the delay on the discussions regarding virus safety and hazard compensation between the Union and food service contractor.
According to the Union president, several long-time workers for the team feel like they are being taken for granted.
“We’re going back to the negotiating table on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of next week, and workers will report to work for today’s game. It’s outrageous that COVID infections weren’t enough for Bon Appetit and the Giants to start taking more effective safety measures, but we hope our strike vote will be the jolt they need,” President of UNITE HERE Local 2, Anand Singh, said in a statement.
Several concerns are causing headaches among the workers.
“Last season was a lost season. There were no fans in the stands. Our members were laid off all season, so they need real wage increases.”
The Union president noted that the workers were not provided with an increase in wage in 3 years and received zero hazard pay during the COVID-19 pandemic.
They also complain of their difficulties in signing up for healthcare as they fall short on several events affected by the health crisis.
Apart from these, they are also voicing concern that they are not getting enough protection against the infection.
“There’s signs up about masking, about social distancing that goes unenforced. We’ve had 20 occurrences of COVID-19 among these workers this season alone.”
Negotiations between the workers and the Giants’ food service contractor Bon Appetite are being set, Anand said.
“We’re hopeful that Bon Appetite, who is the direct employer of these workers, and the Giants come to their senses and step up and meet us on these modest demands.”
He warned of a strike anytime if the negotiations fail to reach their expectations, KRON4 reported.
“Everybody has a responsibility here. They’ve got to step up and make this right and these workers deserve no less.”
The voter turnout among active workers is at 85 percent, with about 96 percent has agreed to the strike.
