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Minor league umpires deserve more. In 1967 Cesar Chavez and the United Fruit Workers fought for a living wage for migrant farmers. If they had left it up to supply and demand, the migrants would still be making substandard wages. But they deserved a better wage. So do the umpires.
If MiLB goes simply by supply and demand, the umpires will not have a living wage. If the umpires had received reasonable cost of living increases in salary and per diem over the last 10 years, there wouldn't be a threatened job action. If they made a decent living and just wanted a bigger piece of the owners' pie, I might be tempted to fill in for them if asked. But since they are fighting for something so basic and necessary, I wouldn't even think about it.
Mike
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