Angels to distribute $1.2 million to stadium workers per agreement with MLB
The Angels will pay more than $1.2 million in financial support to the Angel Stadium game-day workers who now have no games to work.
The team said Sunday it would provide a one-time cash grant to more than 1,800 workers, regardless of whether they are employed by the Angels or a third party. The average payout would be $667 if the Angels provide $1.2 million.
Angels spokeswoman Marie Garvey declined to say how much the individual payments would be, but said the team had established a sliding scale based on factors that included hours worked, job duties, and pay rate. The eligible workers include ticket takers, ushers, janitors, security and concession staff.
“We understand the important contribution that all ballpark workers play in creating a memorable experience at Angel Stadium,” Garvey said.
On March 17, Major League Baseball announced that each team— including the Angels and Dodgers — would commit $1 million to provide financial assistance to game-day workers. Garvey said the Angels announced their plans now because Angel Stadium workers would have received their first paycheck Thursday had the season begun on time.
Angels manager Joe Maddon recruited Albert Pujols, Carlos Peña and Tino Martinez to help stem the coronavirus crisis in his Pennsylvania hometown.
Dodger Stadium workers said they were scheduled to receive their first paycheck April 3. The Dodgers were slated to open at home this season and the Angels on the road.
The Dodgers have not announced how they would provide the financial assistance they pledged. Three game-day workers, all of whom declined to be identified for fear of jeopardizing any payments, said the team has yet to provide specific information about financial assistance. Maria Hernandez, spokeswoman for the union that represents concession workers at Dodger Stadium and Angel Stadium, said the union also has not heard from the Dodgers.
Dodgers spokesman Joe Jareck did not respond to a message asking how and when the team might provide that assistance.
Commissioner Rob Manfred, who had leaned on owners to keep all full-time employees on the payroll through April 30, is expected to tell owners in a Monday conference call that they are free to impose pay cuts or furloughs starting May 1, the Athletic reported Sunday. The Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants reportedly have agreed to keep full-time employees on the payroll through May 31.
If owners pursue the plan to play within an Arizona quarantine, they are likely to face another round of negotiations with the players’ union. In the event of a canceled season, the parties agreed last month that players would receive a collective 4% of salary, in exchange for 100% service time for players who completed a full season in 2019.
Dodgers top prospect Gavin Lux is holed up in Wisconsin, working out and representing the Dodgers in the PlayStation game: “MLB The Show Players League”.
For a partial season, the two sides agreed to prorated salaries, but games played without fans would mean no ticket and concession revenue. In dueling remarks last week, the league office cited language in the agreement that left open the possibility that games without fans could require the players to take a lesser salary; the union cited other language that indicated salaries would be prorated, period.
The league left it to each team to determine how to allot the pledged funds for stadium workers, and whether to commit more than the minimum $1 million. Legends, the company that employs the Angel Stadium concession workers, said it made a contribution to the Angels fund but declined to specify the amount.
The Giants committed to $1.7 million, in a combination of automatic stipends and hardship grants. The New York Yankees invited workers to apply for grants from a $1.4-million fund.
The Angels did not require workers to provide evidence of hardship. In the team’s statement, Garvey said the Angels “hope this will provide some measure of assistance to these important members of our team until the season begins.”
Garvey declined to speculate on whether the Angels would offer additional assistance if no games are played this season, whether games are held without fans, moved to an alternate site, or canceled entirely.
“I don’t think anybody knows what the future is going to bring,” she said.
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