CHICAGO (AP) The Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates are trimming
payroll while they await word on the fate of the Major League
Baseball season.
The Cubs are instituting pay cuts because of the coronavirus
crisis, but there will be no furloughs through the end of June. The
Pirates announced Thursday they are instituting furloughs for
several employees in business operations beginning on June 1.
Chicago’s cuts were based on compensation, a person with direct
knowledge of the situation said. President of baseball operations
Theo Epstein and president of business operations Crane Kenney took
the highest reductions.
The person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of
anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, says 80% of
associates are taking a pay cut of 20% or less.
The MLB season has been ion hold since spring training was
suspended March 12 because of the pandemic. The commissioner’s
office and the players’ union are talking a deal to resume, and
teams could take more drastic employment measures with
administrative staff if the negotiations are unsuccessful.
Pirates president Travis Williams says the team also will be
reducing pay for many of its remaining employees in business and
baseball operations beginning next month.
The Pirates’ executive staff had already accepted voluntary pay
cuts for the remainder of the calendar year.
”We care deeply about all of our employees and understand the
impact this will have on them,” Williams said in a statement.
”These decisions are very difficult, but are necessary for us to
endure this crisis and emerge as strong as possible when we are
able to resume normal operations. We look forward to welcoming our
employees back to work at that time.”
Williams says the team will cover medical, dental and vision
benefits for furloughed employees and their families, and help them
with securing unemployment benefits. No baseball operations staff
with the Pirates were furloughed.
—
Jay Cohen can be reached at https://twitter.com/jcohenap
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