A local union that represents hundreds of Delaware North concessions employees who are “contracted through that company for the Orioles’ home dates” called on the Orioles to "step in to ensure payment to those who Delaware North laid off when the season was delayed,” according to Jon Meoli of the BALTIMORE SUN. Unite Here Local 7, which is based in Baltimore, sent a letter to Orioles Owner Peter Angelos dated March 23 “asking for the team to step in and join the growing list of owners who have ensured the part-time employees who staff their stadiums will still be paid.” Nnameke Onejeme, a lead stand attendant at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, said, “We know that Major League Baseball has made that money available. We’d like to use that money to care for our families during this crisis” (BALTIMORE SUN, 3/27).
FENWAY PARK WORKERS: In Boston, Jason Mastrodonato cites sources as saying that several employees of Aramark, which supplies hourly workers for Red Sox games at Fenway Park, are “set to lose their health insurance amid the coronavirus pandemic.” The news comes as Aramark “has not agreed to lower their limitations that guarantee health insurance to employees who reach an hourly threshold during the year.” Aramark is “believed to have shut down all operations at Fenway during the postponement and the company is not expected to pay any of its employees for any lost wages at this time.” The Red Sox had been in “constant communication with Aramark and, as of last week, expected that Aramark was working on something to help their employees across the country at all the venues they serve.” Many of those employees are “now asking for the Red Sox’ help.” While the Red Sox pledged $1M “to help support hourly workers during the pandemic, those funds were applicable only to the 1,300 employees who worked directly” for the team (BOSTON HERALD, 3/27).
