NEW YORK — James Dolan has stepped up for his workers.
According to a memo sent to employees, Dolan and MSG have agreed to pay event staff at the World’s Most Famous Arena through at least May 3 during the coronavirus shutdown and created a fund for hardship cases that’s already received $2.3 million in donations.
The payments extend through all scheduled events in Madison Square Garden — including Knicks and Rangers games — and the other venues owned by Dolan like Radio City Music Hall, The Hulu Theatre and The Chicago Theatre. Still, it’s not a blanket payment extension from Dolan. Only workers who averaged at least 20 hours per week over the last six months qualify.
MSG had previously only guaranteed pay for its event staff until April 5, causing anxiety among workers who were hoping for the same security provided to Barclays Center staff by Nets owner Joe Tsai. As longtime one concession worker told the Daily News before Dolan’s payment extension, “People are very, very concerned.”
The Nets have still guaranteed payment to event staff for a longer period (through May), but MSG also has left its cutoff open-ended and could extend the checks if the coronavirus pandemic goes into the summer.
According to the memo, the relief fund received a $1 million donation from MSG, a $1 million donation from the Dolan Family Foundation and $300,000 from the MSG management. Workers can apply for relief even while getting paid by MSG if, for instance, their spouse lost a job because of the coronavirus crisis and they’re getting slammed by bills. Event staff includes workers in concessions, cleaning, ushers and others.
Dolan was recently guaranteed an influx of cash when he announced the sale The Forum in Inglewood to Clippers owner Steve Ballmer for $400 million. Dolan also benefits from a tax abatement in New York City that has reached close to $50 million annually (Dolan inherited a tax loophole approved 36 years ago by Mayor Ed Koch).
Tsai and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban have been the shining examples of billionaire owners who pledged definitively to take care of their arena workers. Dolan now joins the list.
Other owners haven’t been so generous. Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs, who also owns TD Garden, laid off hundreds of part-time ushers. Workers at Citi Field, home of the Mets, have also not received payments yet for home games that were scheduled, as the Daily News’ Bradford William Davis reported. The Sixers announced a plan to cut back salaries of higher-paid full-time employees by 20 percent, but apologized and backtracked after public criticism.
———
©2020 New York Daily News
Visit New York Daily News at www.nydailynews.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.