Dodgers Among MLB Teams Stepping Up to Assist Ballpark Employees
Among the many, many things and people affected by the fallout of the Coronavirus shutdown, a huge concern has been the hourly workers employed by organizations going unpaid.
Thankfully, Major League Baseball and its clubs are stepping up to the plate with the assist.
The @MLB teams are donating a total of $30 million — $1 million each — to assist the ballpark employees affected by the delayed start to the 2020 season. https://t.co/PjlBCfTIxe pic.twitter.com/0AlOXOzH9M
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) March 17, 2020
On Monday, Dodgers president Stan Kasten said the organization is “mindful of the problem” but that there’s no plan just yet. Thankfully that plan came together quickly amongst all clubs a day later.
Moreover, the team said it will continue to pay their minor league players what they would receive during spring training time.
As part of the announcement, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said there’s likely more to come from clubs in short order.
The individual clubs will be announcing more details surrounding this support effort in their local communities. The timing of these announcements will vary because of the need to coordinate with state and local laws as well as collective bargaining obligations in an effort to maximize the benefits realized by each group of employees. I am proud that our clubs came together so quickly and uniformly to support these individuals who provide so much to the game we love.
MLB and the player’s association has been doing its part to step up during these trying times. On Monday, both MLB and the MLBPA announced a donation of $1M to emergency food services. Commissioner Manfred said this in a statement.
In these difficult times of navigating this pandemic, it is important that we come together as a society to help the most vulnerable members of our communities. As an institution, baseball is extending our commitment to addressing childhood hunger and food availability issues during this crisis. We are grateful for the partnership with our players on this critical issue, which has the potential to deeply affect children and seniors.
We’ll continue to be without baseball for some time. In a press release on Monday, Manfred said that MLB will closely follow the guidelines laid out by the CDC. With whispers getting louder that June would be an absolute best-case scenario for baseball activities to resume, people are encouraged to be as smart as possible when it comes to protecting everyone and themselves from the COVID-19 virus.
NEXT: Dodgers Looking to Take Care of Stadium Staff
