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Originally Posted by ctblu40
Mr B.
I'm not saying that they got neither a fair nor unfair contract. I'm saying that SCABs crossing their picket lines undermined their ability to pressure PBUC and MiLB to consider consessions.
65% of the membership ratified the contract, so the entire membership ended the strike. Fine. I just wonder how much they may have received had the amature ranks across the nation supported them?
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I will try to remain above the fray and answer your question. Of course the replacements undermined the AMLU game plan. So what? The didn't make a tactical decision, the were simply instruments to an end. The AMLU took a chance on a contract and then gambled on a strike when they couldn't improve their position. The only leverage they had was that they were too talented to be replaced. This bluff failed miserably. MiLB and PBUC knew that they could find umpires capable of working these games and they did.
In every battle (war, strike, marital conflict) there are always going to be things that effect the outcome. Some are out of your control and others, tactical blunders. If no one had come out to work those games, MiLB would have had to scrub the season, but honestly, that was never an option. Garbage, teacher and rapid transit strikes have been broken because of replacement workers. The MLB umpires went out on strike and they were successfully replaced. When you don't learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it. The AMLU never stood a chance with this one.
You ask a final question about support. Not every amateur umpire crossed their picket line and worked. Yet, I read story after story that had AMLU spokesmen saying that amateur umpires are worthless. Their website was filled with tales of amateur woe. By the way, this was prior to the strike.
For what it's worth, were you ever offered a contract by PBUC?