AMLU negotiators, MiLB officials and a federal mediator meet in Cincinnati!

[dontcallmeblue]

For Immediate Release
April 27, 2006

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SETTLES
UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE CHARGES

The Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation (PBUC) has agreed to settle unfair labor practices filed against it by the Association of Minor League Umpires (AMLU) with the National Labor Relations Board. PBUC is the subsidiary of minor league baseball which employs approximately 220 umpires in sixteen minor leagues in the United States and Canada. Under the terms of the settlement, 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, will not withdraw employment opportunities or threaten to demote employees if they fail to agree to PBUC’s contract offer, and will not fail to provide bargaining information requested by AMLU. The NLRB is requiring PBUC to post the notice for 60 days, and will monitor PBUC’s compliance with the terms of the settlement and notice posting.

Minor league umpires have been on strike since the start of the minor league season in protest of PBUC’s unfair labor practices, and to obtain a fair contract. The parties’ first collective bargaining agreement expired November 30, 2005. AMLU and PBUC are resuming negotiations with the assistance of a federal mediation in Cincinnati on Thursday, April 27. No progress was made in negotiations on Wednesday, April 26.

Also Wednesday, a replacement umpire was struck by a bat thrown by Tampa Bay Devil Rays prospect Delmon Young during the first inning of a game between the Durham Bulls and the Pawtucket Red Sox in Pawtucket. The replacement umpire, who was not identified, called Young out on strikes. The incident follows an injury to Norfolk Mets player Victor Diaz after Diaz collided with a replacement umpire who was out of position on a base path.