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Originally Posted by MrB
With only a half day left in the scheduled talks, is there any word about how things are shaping up?
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Striking minor league umpires and management settled an unfair labor practice charge filed by the union after resuming bargaining this week following a layoff of 2 1/2 months.
Umpires, who have been on strike since the start of the season, claimed the Professional Umpire Development Corp. threatened to fire employees who went on strike.
"PBUC is required to post a public government notice in every minor league park in the country and mail the notice to all employees, informing the umpires, its employees, that it will honor their rights to engage in union activities, and that it will not threaten striking employees with discharge or other reprisals," the Association of Minor League Umpires said in a statement Thursday.
Management made what it terms its final offer to the union on Jan. 31. Talks resumed with a federal mediator Wednesday in Cincinnati, and the union said there was no progress. Talks continued Thursday.
"We agreed to settle with no admission of wrongdoing," management lawyer George Yund said. "The umpires are on strike over their demands for more money, not because of alleged unfair labor practices."
The unionized umpires want higher pay and per diem. Umps say their salaries average $15,000 at Triple-A, $12,000 at Double-A, $10,000 in full-season A-ball and $5,500 in rookie leagues.
"PBUC is willing to reach a new contract but has proved that it can operate successfully without the strikers," Yund said.
The minor leagues have not identified the replacement umpires who have been working games. Tampa Bay prospect Delmon Young threw a bat that hit a replacement umpire in the chest Wednesday and was suspended indefinitely by the International League on Thursday.
"I'm sure whatever differences remain in our negotiations, the AMLU agrees with PBUC that a player should not intentionally hit an umpire under any circumstances," Yund said