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

[MrB]

With only a half day left in the scheduled talks, is there any word about how things are shaping up?

[wsttxump]

Originally Posted by MrB

With only a half day left in the scheduled talks, is there any word about how things are shaping up?

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

[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.

[WhatWuzThatBlue]

Is this the big news you were referring to?

Most everyone in the world knew that the AMLU boys are striking for more money and improved benefits. The fact that PBUC intimated that they could be fired was a mistake but doesn't diminish the original issue. The Minor League umpires walked out - most of us have said that - and replacement umpires - most intelligent people use this term - have worked in their stead.

I enjoy the banter but it seems funny that you hung your hat on the idea that progress would be made. PBUC still holds the reins and the AMLU boys are still looking for scraps.

Most of the regular contributors to this board have lng held that the best umpires for that job are not working them. Even yours truly has maintained that the strike is a bad idea and they should continue to work for PBUC. Depsite your insistence, there is little passion for this matter on my end. I just can't belive that a few days ago you proclaimed that a huge step would be taken towards ending this strike. I didn't even see a baby step.

For what it's worth, does anyone recall the horror stories told by 'Minor League' umpires about how they were threatened or intimidated on the field and off. I believe one umpire told of having a player in a dugout fling a ball at him. Now we are hearing the bat story like it is only relevant to replacement umpires. The pinhead who launched it is the weak link here, not the other way around.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by WhatWuzThatBlue

Is this the big news you were referring to?

Most everyone in the world knew that the AMLU boys are striking for more money and improved benefits. The fact that PBUC intimated that they could be fired was a mistake but doesn't diminish the original issue. The Minor League umpires walked out - most of us have said that - and replacement umpires - most intelligent people use this term - have worked in their stead.

I enjoy the banter but it seems funny that you hung your hat on the idea that progress would be made. PBUC still holds the reins and the AMLU boys are still looking for scraps.

Most of the regular contributors to this board have lng held that the best umpires for that job are not working them. Even yours truly has maintained that the strike is a bad idea and they should continue to work for PBUC. Depsite your insistence, there is little passion for this matter on my end. I just can't belive that a few days ago you proclaimed that a huge step would be taken towards ending this strike. I didn't even see a baby step.

For what it's worth, does anyone recall the horror stories told by 'Minor League' umpires about how they were threatened or intimidated on the field and off. I believe one umpire told of having a player in a dugout fling a ball at him. Now we are hearing the bat story like it is only relevant to replacement umpires. The pinhead who launched it is the weak link here, not the other way around.

The MiLBU did NOT walkout. The union went on strike. When a contract expires and a new on is not in place, the union can continue to work under the old contract until a new one has been adopted or it can go on strike. The MiLBU choose to go on strike and the umpires who choose to replace them can be called anything you want to call them, but they did stab their fellow brother sports officials in the back by working the games during a strike.

MTD, Sr.

[WhatWuzThatBlue]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

The MiLBU did NOT walkout. The union went on strike. When a contract expires and a new on is not in place, the union can continue to work under the old contract until a new one has been adopted or it can go on strike. The MiLBU choose to go on strike and the umpires who choose to replace them can be called anything you want to call them, but they did stab their fellow brother sports officials in the back by working the games during a strike.

MTD, Sr.

I recoiled in disgust at this post. The AMLU brass screwed the pooch on this one. They instructed the membership to ignore Spring assignments...not governed by the PBUC system or the contract. They walked away from those games and the chance to advance their careers.

I have been intimately involved with union strikes over the years. Your assumption that I am a novice is ill placed.

The umpires who replaced those who consciously chose to refuse to work should be commended. They accepted assignments for the good of the game, challenged their abilities and withstood peltings by those who claim to be professional. I suspect that you find the posting of names, email addresses and photos of those who worked acceptable? Maybe you were also in favor of the threats they received? Nothing will ever salve the wounds created by the unions' hypocrisy.

I know plenty of union contractors that do side jobs for extra cash. They are taking money out of their fellow brothers' pockets and weakening the bargaining system by doing it. It amazes me when they cry foul for doing the same!

[D-Man]

Yeah, right...that's apples to apples.

C'mon W, you're better than that!

D

[WhatWuzThatBlue]

I deleted the post about the Indoor Football being fired because it's humor wore thin. Apologies to the masses...

[maineblue]

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/a...milb&fext=.jsp