BALTIMORE — Around 700 concessions workers at Camden Yards won’t be getting paid while the MLB season is delayed because of the coronavirus outbreak, said Unite Here Local 7 President Roxie Herbeckian.
The workers, who are Delaware North contractors, are asking the team to help them financially until the season begins.
Major League Baseball announced the season is expected to start early June, according to ESPN reports.
George Hancock, who has worked at Orioles games selling beers, says the job is his main source of income. Hancock says his side jobs, which are still in the service industry, are mostly closed because of restrictions to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
“This money is really critical for us to survive,” he said. “Even though this is going on we still have to live.”
Herbeckian says the job at Camden Yards is the only source of income for hundreds of others as well. It’s why she sent a letter to the Orioles organization urging them to step up to the plate and pay the workers.
“We’re asking for them to pay up to 40 home stand games,” she said. Camden Yards have got over $110 million of taxpayer money and we are asking for them now to help out these workers
The Orioles and every other MLB team have already pledged $1 million to help stadium staff, but because Hancock and the others are contractors, Herbeckian says they may not see any of that money.
“This is affecting a lot of people,” she said. “There’s no paycheck, but there are still bills.”
Hancock is hoping the Orioles will help them out in a time when they need them most.
“Some of my other co-workers are living paycheck to paycheck,” he said. “We served the fans, the Orioles park, I just want the same thing to come back to us.”
