Scab Umpires

[PWL]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Jeff, are you a member of the AMLU? I asked for specific remarks directed toward the Minor League Umpires. Your inability to answer the most simple of questions is the reason I said you are a charade.

You post statements, and then, in true liberal fashion, try to double-talk your way out of them, without really addressing the original question. You were wrong, realized you were wrong, and then tried to half-step your way around it, thinking that we are stupid anyway, who's going to notice? But I noticed.

To further quote the song, "you're nearly a good laugh, you're nearly a laugh but you're really a cry."

I can't help about the shape I'm in.
I can't sing, I ain't pretty and my legs are thin.
But don't ask me what I think of you.
I might not give the answer that you what me to.

OH WELL

Now, when I talked to God I knew he'd understand.
He said, "Stand by my side and I'll be your guiding hand.
But don't don't ask me what I think of you.
I might not give the answer that you want me to".

OH WELL

Nothing like a song for every occassion.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by PWL

I can't help about the shape I'm in.
I can't sing, I ain't pretty and my legs are thin.
But don't ask me what I think of you.
I might not give the answer that you what me to.

OH WELL

Now, when I talked to God I knew he'd understand.
He said, "Stand by my side and I'll be your guiding hand.
But don't don't ask me what I think of you.
I might not give the answer that you want me to".

OH WELL

Nothing like a song for every occassion.

Fleetwood Mac is always good with dip.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Okay, this is how it is:

People with strong union backgrounds in their families or personal lives tend to support any and all unions, simply because they are unions. They support all strikes against the big, bad, unfair meanies in management, regardless of their merit.

People with non-union, or even more so, anti-union stances are not supposed to have an opinion when it comes to the issue of unions. Not being union members, why how could they possibly relate to the plight of labor in these cases? So, the union supporters tend to disregard anyone with an opposing viewpoint. They are just ignorant and uninformed "scab lovers" with no clue.

The unions I am familiar with here in San Diego have gone on strike, and not garnered much support from the non-union public. The "scab" labor comes in, management thumbs their noses at the union members, the union reps end up getting much less than they wanted at the bargaining table, and the workers return to work with their tails between their legs. This is the exact pattern of events in the grocery workers' strike we had here recently.

The bottom line is, while unions have done magnificent things for all workers over this nation's history, there are times when striking is not effective. I feel this is one of those times.

Nobody twisted the MiLB umpires' arms to accept the slave labor wages they get paid. If you want a shot at the majors, then this is the only road leading there. Take it or leave it, that's what management's position is. You are there to prepare yourself for a possible career in baseball, which is not in the minor leagues.

I wish that the management would pay the minor league guys a heck of a lot more than they do. The wages are deplorable. It is downright sinful to expect these guys to try to live on this paltry sum of money, and lack of decent benefits. However, these umpires did agree to these terms when they signed their contracts, and I think that is the issue that the non-union and anti-union crowd is pointing out. I also think that striking right now will hurt their chances of bringing a change to the system, rather than help them.

Here is the view from non-union laborers: If a non-union employee told his boss he wanted x-amount more money or he was going to walk, the boss would gleefully tell him not to let the door hit him in the butt on the way out.

This is why non-union employees have little sympathy for strikers, because they can't strike themselves. They can't completely understand the concept of accepting a contract, and then saying the contract isn't good enough anymore. That strategy worked for Terrell Owens, because their was another team that wanted him. Dallas said sure, T.O., we'll pay you the money you wanted in Philly. There is no other team for these umpires, so their threats aren't taken seriously.

[Kaliix]

If I read this thread right, the union isn't striking. They don't have a contract in the first place, since their contract expired. Striking implies that you are leaving a job that you had in the first place. MiLB has no contract. They refused to accept the terms they were offered by Baseball.

So if they don't have a job to begin with, how are the people who are taking the available unfilled jobs, scabs? These "replacement" umpires haven't been asked to join a union, and since there isn't a strike due to their not being a contract - none of those definitions apply. If they aren't working for less than the union was working for, none of the scab definitions apply.

And why should anyone support a union that wouldn't accept them into their ranks in the first place? We, the union, don't want you, wouldn't take you, and don't really care about what you plight in life is. So tell me why anyone should support your union again?

[LMan]

Well, if there is no contract, then why is the AMLU 'picketing' the replacements?

How can you 'cross a line' if there's no contract to violate?

I'm sure some union-savvy people can break this down for me.

[BigUmp56]

It's not a violation of union by-laws for a non member to cross a picket line. That wouldn't make much sense as a non union individual isn't bound by a collective bargaining agreement. If ,after the AMLU's case is heard by the NLRB, the union is de-certified, then it still wouldn't be a violation for former members to cross either.

Even if a union member were to cross there could be no legal reprecussions against them. They would simply lose their membership or be forced to pay a fine to stay a member in some unions. I can't say for sure though as I've not read their contract. In our union the only way to take away someones union membership is for non payment of dues.

[PWL]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

It's not a violation of union by-laws for a non member to cross a picket line. That wouldn't make much sense as a non union individual isn't bound by a collective bargaining agreement. If ,after the AMLU's case is heard by the NLRB, the union is de-certified, then it still wouldn't be a violation for former members to cross either.

Even if a union member were to cross there could be no legal reprecussions against them. They would simply lose their membership or be forced to pay a fine to stay a member in some unions. I can't say for sure though as I've not read their contract. In our union the only way to take away someones union membership is for non payment of dues.

That must be one heck of a union you're in. No wonder everybody is down on unions these days. Seems that it's in your contract that you can sit around 24/7 posting on umpire forums. Must be good work if you can get it. Wait a minute, nobody ever could have a job that good. I get it now. You don't have a job. You were fired for posting on umpire forums 24/7. Work just getting the way of your first real love. Oh well, at least your happy. Starving, but happy.