The Rachael Ray Show is in a dispute with crew members who were laid off amid the pandemic

Variety

About 18 union camera operators, audio engineers and other technical crew have lost their jobs after Rachael Ray decided not to return to her studio this season and instead continue shooting her show from her home. Now the crew members' union is headed to arbitration with the show over unpaid hours. As Buzzfeed's Krystie Lee Yandoli, who spoke to nine former employees, reports: "Executives have made it clear that Ray is uncomfortable going back to the studio because of COVID-19 dangers, and crew members say they 'completely understand her concerns' and don’t hold that against her. But they also said it’s a tough pill to swallow when Ray has donated $4 million to coronavirus relief while her own employees are worried about how they’re going to pay their bills and keep their health insurance during a global pandemic." One crew member tells her: “My savings is dwindling. I’m not going to be able to pay my bills, and then in the next six months I won’t have worked enough union hours to cover my health insurance."