© Stan Szeto | 2021 Jun 16
Oracle Park concessions employees will work the Giants’ upcoming homestand after three days of negotiations with the Giants and Bon Appetit. They’re encouraged by the bargains made by the Giants, but remain at odds with Bon Appetit, the food service contractor that runs Oracle Park’s concessions.
In an impromptu press conference Friday, Local 2 president Anand Singh and four workers reiterated that they’re ready to hold the picket line despite negotiating progress made throughout the week. They’re encouraged by the Giants coming to the table and committing to initiate new safety guidelines, and have made “significant progress” in the areas of wage increases and pensions, Singh said. But they remain disappointed Bon Appetit hasn’t budged on the issue of health care.
“We are absolutely nowhere on certain issues that are important to us, that are critical to this bargaining,” Singh said. “Mainly the issue of health care. We’ve been very clear all along that any concept, any belief that ballpark workers are going to have to foot the bill for the ever-increasing cost of medical benefits is just simply unacceptable. We’re not going to foot the bill for these increases in costs. That was unacceptable to us in 2013, the last time ballpark workers went on strike. And it’s certainly unacceptable in 2021, in the midst of a global pandemic.”
On Sept. 4, 96.7% of Oracle Park concessions workers, represented by the Unite Here Local 2 union, voted to authorize a strike. They haven’t gotten a pay raise in three years, feel unsafe working during the pandemic under the current health and safety guidelines for fans, and lose health care benefits when they don’t work 10 events in a month — something that’s become more common while events remain scaled back. They’re seeking a $3 per hour hazard pay increase and a decrease from 10 to nine events per month to qualify for health care benefits.
During negotiations, Bon Appetit proposed a plan that would increase health care premiums — possibly costing workers hundreds of dollars out of pocket — without lowering the event threshold, Singh said. He called that suggestion “simply unworkable.”
Since the season began, 20 workers have tested positive for COVID-19. Several workers have said fans don’t wear their masks, making working at the park dangerous for them. In negotiations this week, the Giants committed to new policies including a “no mask, no service” mandate and additional signage, Singh said.
“We want to credit the Giants for coming to us and really listening to our concerns,” Singh said. “Our members’ concerns about health and safety in the ballpark. And affording them the respect that they’re due.”
As the delta variant surges in the Bay Area, the union wants patrons to wear masks whenever they’re at a concession stand. As it is now, there’s no mask requirement nor enforcement in place. The Giants are committed to changing that, Singh said, though they’ll monitor how the new rules play out in the upcoming games. The Giants host the Padres and Braves next week.
“We are not going to allow our members to be put in harm’s way,” Singh said. “Any lack of enforcement will certainly get our attention here.”
Billie Feliciano, a 45-year veteran concessions worker, said union members shouldn’t be at risk while making the ballpark experience what it is. Rhonda Mitchell, who’s worked concessions for the Giants for 21 years, said she needs health insurance to pay for her medication. Deborah Torrano, a 32-year concessions worker, said safety in the workplace is the most important issue for her, and that it’s important to make a stand for it.
They’re each prepared to strike if their requests aren’t met. They bargained all day Friday, then went to work a full shift for the San Francisco Opera’s performance at Oracle Park.
The next round of negotiations is in two weeks. If Bon Appetit still doesn’t budge on the health care front, Singh said it’s “very, very likely” a strike will take place. The union oversaw a 2018 strike among Mariott hotel workers that lasted two months, as well as a one-day Oracle Park employees strike in 2013.
Still, nobody wants to strike if they don’t have to. There’s hope that the progress made this week continues, and the workers can clear the “significant barriers” remaining without striking.
“Our members have seen real movement at the table,” Singh said. “It’s our hope that, should that progress continue when we get back to the table in a couple weeks, that we could actually land an agreement here. It’s not all doom and gloom. Credit where it’s due: the company’s moving in the right direction. They’re starting to get closer to meeting some of our demands. But we still have a ways to go. So a strike is certainly still a possibility.”