A different perspective...

[nickrego]

Originally Posted by Rich Fronheiser

Please remember to think about the concessions workers, ticket takers, and all the other people making "peanuts" working at minor league games. For them, the games have to go on as well.

Rich,

Your compassion is well placed. And I am sure those people deserve it. But MLB doesn't give a crap about them either. They are just another necessary evil to keep fans in the stands happy.

Lets look at it this way;

Historically, if XYZ manufacturing company was faced with a striking workforce, who fills in for the striking workers ? Different workers ? No, MANAGEMENT ! I know, I've been there. Still am. If any one of the several labor groups were to strike at the company I work for, all non-union Salaried employees have to fill in. I would love to see the MLB brass don some gear and fill in ! This strike would be over in about a week ! Unfortunately, these days, in many industries, it is too easy to get replacement workers who are willing to do the job for less compensation.

The umpires can't base their decision to strike on whether it will effect the other labor groups involved. If unions did that, there would never be any strikes, and there would never be any improvement.

Another issue that hasn't come up yet...How is it going to be handled if one of the Replacements gets seriously injured. If they can't work, their full time employers are under no obligation to hold their position for them until they return. They could find themselves in a real bad position, since their personal health insurance is also not required to cover their work related injury. If they are not covered by an MiLB Workers Health / Compensation policy, they could also find themselves paying for their own medical bills. I bet nobody has been thinking about that.

Strikes are a terrible thing, both sides suffer irreparable damage. Lets hope this thing can end fairly, and quickly.