the 50 other immigrants on a staff of 55

[Yonsu99]

All three have ended up in management jobs at the McDonald's restaurant on Peterson Avenue on Chicago's north side, overseeing the 50 other immigrants on a staff of 55. Dead-End Jobs? Not for These Three

The news article was quoted in my workbook, I don't understand the preposition "on" in "the 50 other immigrants on a staff of 55" and why not 'staffs' but "a staff" was used. My gut feeling is that "the 50 other immigrants on a staff of 55" should be "the 50 other immigrants working as staffs of all the 55 staffs" Can you throw a light on why singular 'staff' was used in 'a staff of 55' and the function of preposition 'on'?

 

[Matthew Wai]

why singular 'staff' was used in 'a staff of 55'

I think it is just like the singular 'team' is used in 'a team of 55'.

the 55 staffs

It should be 'the 55 staff members'.

Not a teacher.

 

[tzfujimino]

Hello.
I think this dictionary is useful.:-D
'On' is used in the sense of 'belonging to' in your sentence: (definition #24) http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/staff_1

 

[Matthew Wai]

Do you mean Definition#24 on http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/on_1 ?

 

[tzfujimino]

Hello, Matthew.:-D
Yes, that's what I meant.
Or definition #8 here: http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/on_1
Am I wrong?

 

[Matthew Wai]

Hello, tzfujimino.:-D
I feel that 'on' here means not so much 'belonging to' as 'being members of'.
Am I wrong?

Not a teacher.

 

[tzfujimino]

Hello, Mr. Wai.:-D

1. I am a member of the soccer team.
2. I belong to the soccer team.

I think both of these sentences above mean the same.

So, we are in agreement, aren't we?:-D

 

[Matthew Wai]

Yes, definitely.

Not a teacher.