The AMLU's Birmingham Folly

[DIV2ump]

Originally Posted by lawump

As to the argument: "they only work 5 months a year so they are being paid adequately."

First, they work March through September = 7 months.

Are the AMLU guys including their spring training pay in the nubmers they are throwing around? I didn't get the impression that they were including it in those numbers so you can count march if they aren't.

I think its hard to compare an umpiring job to people working 8 or 10 hour days. A lot of people would love to go to the ballpark for work.

Your thoughts on the difficulty of travel are valid.

[lawump]

Originally Posted by DIV2ump

Are the AMLU guys including their spring training pay in the nubmers they are throwing around? I didn't get the impression that they were including it in those numbers so you can count march if they aren't.

I think its hard to compare an umpiring job to people working 8 or 10 hour days. A lot of people would love to go to the ballpark for work.

Your thoughts on the difficulty of travel are valid.

I don't know if Spring Training is currently included in the "they get paid $15,000" per year. I do know this, if they are not working MLB spring training, they are getting paid a minimal amount for that month. If I remember back to the late '90s, I believe I was paid by the organization I was assigned to...and that this amount varied from organization to organization. I have had numerous persons complain to me about the spring training pay since I left the game.

Let's not kid ourselves, whether their contract with PBUC requires them to work spring training or not...the fact is, for the past 15 years, they have to work it if they have any hope of promotion.

So if they are paid by the organization they're assigned to and not under the expired CBA with MiLB/PBUC...they make a bit more...instead of the $15,000 I suggested for a AAA umpire. But, all they get is that same unlivable monthly wage (or less...as in my case) for another month.

They are still working 175 days vs. 232. Only the base pay of $15,000 would be a bit higher.

I'll try to track down a more exact amount from some friends today.

As for "going to the ballpark" each day...Sure I agree, but I think for a lot of umpires the grind of the life causes one to loose that romanticism after a few seasons.

[MrB]

I went back and took a look at my finances for my 1st year in the game and I made almost $14,500 in Salary that included Spring, Extended, Short A, and Instructs. That does not include per diem which was roughly $4000. I was not a driver my first year but I was my second, and those mileage checks were very nice, and yes the cost of gas has gone up, but if they were to match the federal mileage rate, then that would be a major chunk of change.

Lets' look at a AAA guy making $2800/month during Spring, AAA, instructs he would make about 22,000, and when the guys that get back from the Caribbean, they are carrying anywhere from $8000-$12,000, cash with them.

The point, neither side is being honest about the numbers, so let's not play the numbers game.

Starting Teacher makes about $28,000 for 9 months of work and no meal money and no mileage to drive to work. Should they be paid more? Probably. What did they spend on their professional training? $50,000, minimum!

Starting Umpire makes about $14,500 for 7 months of work and about $4000 for meals and about $0.40 a mile do drive to work. Should they be paid more? Probably. What did they spend on their professional training? $5,000 maximum!

[lawump]

Originally Posted by MrB

Lets' look at a AAA guy making $2800/month during Spring, AAA, instructs he would make about 22,000, and when the guys that get back from the Caribbean, they are carrying anywhere from $8000-$12,000, cash with them.

I did not calculate Winter Ball (Carribean) at all. I have no idea what they make for that. The numbers I suggested were only for 7 months of work (175 days of work). They did not include AFL (instructs) either. I have no idea what they make for that...I could have asked, but haven't. I've given a mea culpa on the Spring Training...obviously I counted SPring Training as one of the 7 months, but did not count it in the salary figure of $15,000. As I said above they would thus be working 175 days (games) for a more than $15000. The exact amount varying depending on which club you were assigned to.

I have no knowledge of what they get paid for AFL or Carribean work...but I did not include that in the 175 work days a year, either. And the majority of umpires (AAA and others) are not lucky enough to work those in any given year.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by MrB

Starting Teacher makes about $28,000 for 9 months of work and no meal money and no mileage to drive to work. Should they be paid more? Probably. What did they spend on their professional training? $50,000, minimum!

Where is this teacher starting their job at? I can tell you the Chicago Public Schools start new teachers out about $40,000 and will give them breaks in loans to find housing in the city limits. I know teachers that have several years of service can make $60,000-$80,000 depending on what they teach and what they do for the school. None of this includes benefits and insurance packages if a teacher is faced with health care issues. Now this is a major metropolitan area I am talking about and they are a great need for teachers across the board. This might not apply to other parts of the country. I know if you gave someone $28,000 in the community I grew up in, it might not be a lot of money, but the money would go a lot longer because the cost of living is not as great.

This is why I feel we should not compare different professions in this debate. It really is not a fair comparison.

Peace

[MrB]

I got my info off of the US Dept of Ed website, the min for the US is 28k, I went back and looked and the minimum starting in Illinois is 32k with the average salary of 49k for all teachers.

As for the programs and perks, there are programs and perks in every job. One of the perks of being a MiLB umpire, is when you get out, you can work NCAA ball without playing politics and make more in 12 weekends then you made in a year of MiLB ball.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Where is this teacher starting their job at? I can tell you the Chicago Public Schools start new teachers out about $40,000 and will give them breaks in loans to find housing in the city limits. I know teachers that have several years of service can make $60,000-$80,000 depending on what they teach and what they do for the school..

Peace

In Washington state teachers' starting salary is 30,380. With a masters degree and 15 years experience, they make 50,530. They cannot reach $80,000 no matter how long the teach or how many degrees they obtain.

[DIV2ump]

Originally Posted by lawump

As for "going to the ballpark" each day...Sure I agree, but I think for a lot of umpires the grind of the life causes one to loose that romanticism after a few seasons.

I'm just saying that many people would trade their daily grind for the "grind" of going to a pro ballpark each day. I've seen umpire and other facilites in new minor league parks and they're really nice.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by DIV2ump

I'm just saying that many people would trade their daily grind for the "grind" of going to a pro ballpark each day. I've seen umpire and other facilites in new minor league parks and they're really nice.

Yes, they've come a long way from the "nail on the wall to hang your clothes" stories I heard when I first started umpiring.

[left coast]

Originally Posted by DIV2ump

Are the AMLU guys including their spring training pay in the nubmers they are throwing around? I didn't get the impression that they were including it in those numbers so you can count march if they aren't.

I think its hard to compare an umpiring job to people working 8 or 10 hour days. A lot of people would love to go to the ballpark for work.

Your thoughts on the difficulty of travel are valid.

MiLB negotiated a new deal for the umpires this year to get paid $100 per day (not game) during Spring Training. MiLB did not need to do this, but negotiated with the teams on behalf of the umpires who were threatening to strike.

[fromthe757]

Not entirely true. The umpires were offered 100/day, but only because MLB ballclubs went to PBUC with the offer. For years PBUC has said they can't do anything about what is paid at spring training.

[DIV2ump]

Originally Posted by fromthe757

Not entirely true. The umpires were offered 100/day, but only because MLB ballclubs went to PBUC with the offer. For years PBUC has said they can't do anything about what is paid at spring training.

Do you think MiLB can tell MLB clubs how much to pay? I'd be surprised if they could.

So the minor lg umps turned down $100 per day? Did that include per diem and housing or is that separate?

[bobbybanaduck]

$100/day was pay and food. housing is a horse of a different color. a FEW are housed in apartment complexes while most are put up in hotels and live 2 to a room, which is BS.

[MPHump]

Would that horse be considered a minority horse?

[LMan]

Originally Posted by MPHump

Would that horse be considered a minority horse?

A minority horse is a horse, of course.....