Golden State Warriors’ employees lost their health care for the month of May following a LeBron James three-pointer.
As if trying to navigate life during a pandemic isn’t tough enough, Chase Center concession workers lost their health care for the month of May after the Golden State Warriors lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the final game of the Western Conference play-in tournament, 103-100.
The loss not only ruined the Warriors hopes of making it to the playoffs, but it also confirmed that Chase Center concession workers wouldn’t meet the requirement of working 10 games in a month to receive health care. If Golden State would have won, its three home playoff games would’ve allowed for employees to maintain health care for the month.
Chase Center food concession workers were a three-pointer away from health care
With under a minute remaining in regulation and the game tied at 100, LeBron James drilled a three-pointer as the shot clock expired to propel the Lakers to the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. With the ball in James’ hands, what else did you think was going to happen?
Los Angeles fans breathed a sign of relief, Golden State fans clung to the hope of a miracle and Chase Center employees were left with no health care for the month of May.
“LeBron hitting a three shouldn’t cost people their health coverage,” said Anand Singh, president of UNITE HERE local 2, the union that represents 930 concession workers at Chase Center and Oracle Park, where the Giants play. “It’s absolutely ridiculous to take away workers’ health care in a pandemic over something that’s no fault of their own. That’s one of the reasons we have chosen to fight.”
According to Molly Knight of The Long Game, Chase Center and Oracle Park both use a company named Bon Appetite, a subcontractor that manages food preparation and sales. Concession workers, who are already overwhelmed during games as thousands of fans line up for food and drinks, shouldn’t have to also worry about working 10 games a month to receive health care. Not to mention during a public health crisis.