SF Giants 'In Memoriam' for stadium workers rings hollow
Before the SF Giants home opener on Friday night against the Royals at Oracle Park, the franchise put together a mid-sized program of pregame festivities. Giants stars Brandon Crawford and Logan Webb received the loudest ovations as they were introduced prior to the game, and former Giant Matt Duffy received a sizable cheer from the Oracle Park crowd. The crowd saved it's most raucous cheers, though, for recently retired reliever Sergio Romo, who received a standing ovation when he came onto the field to yell, "Play Ball!"
One moment, however, drew my attention. The Giants played an "In Memoriam" video clip, which featured pictures of former Giants legends or members of the organization who passed during the offseason. While former on-field stars like Jesús Alou and Gaylord Perry highlighted the clip, the former players were preceded by roughly a dozen stadium workers, primarily for Bon Appétit-a subcontractor for Giants concessions-and Guest Services. The graphic did not clarify whether they included former stadium workers or only those who worked in 2022, but most looked middle-aged or younger.
It was a touching moment to celebrate the lives of folks who are pivotal to the sports experience but often remain faceless. Yet, at the same time, there was something uneasy about the Giants honoring folks as members of their community when they have done little to support them during their time as employees.
Bon Appétit employees at Oracle Park were forced to take a strike vote in 2021 following years without raises and a health insurance model that put many workers at risk of losing their coverage. The union received no support from the Giants organization, who deflected their power in the situation, despite being a prominent Bon Appétit client. Moreover, many within the union felt the Giants were not taking the necessary measures to protect them from COVID-19.
"One not-insignificant issue remains only partially resolved: health and safety measures at the ballpark which is the Giants' direct domain, as opposed to Bon Appétit's," wrote Alex Shultz of SFGATE. "Concessions workers have complained that fans at Oracle Park are too often approaching them without masks on and that the Giants organization hasn't been enforcing strict enough protection measures."
The pandemic may not be at the place it was in 2021 anymore, and the overwhelming majority of maskless folks at Friday's home opener reflected that. However, the few people I saw wearing a face covering were stadium employees.
There's no hiding the demographic disparities between stadium/concession workers and the fans who frequent games. Stadium workers are disproportionally poor and racial minorities, putting them in a particularly weak position against the power of a multi-billion dollar franchise like the Giants (or $300 million company like Bon Appétit).
While fans remember legends like Perry and Alou, the workers behind the scenes are seen as far more replaceable, far more invisible, and there's a real tragedy that some of them had their most visible moment on Friday only because of their passing. So, may they rest in peace. May all of us who love sports do our part to support the workers who play a pivotal part in our experiences at ballparks and stadiums. And may we remember to hold the SF Giants accountable to their workers.
