The AMLU's Birmingham Folly

[Thatballzlow]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I'm sick and tired of all the misinformation as to what is going on, so I thought I would finally write a post that would hopefully clear up some issues, and, I pray, will be read by some of the AMLU members to start a groundswell to pull themselves off the ground and get running again. First, a back story...

In 2001, when the union first formed, the AMLU had some able leaders who certainly argued with Randy Mobley and the rest of the negotiators from the other side. However, there was a much bigger rapport between those AMLU leaders and Mobley and the boys because they all umpired in his league. In fact, the statement was made after the negotiation that, "You (AMLU) couldn't have picked a better group of professional individuals to represent you at the table." (That is a paraphrase, can't remember the exact wording). This comment was from none other than Pat O'Connor, who heads up PBUC!

The union settled an issue in 2002 involving the fact that the Intl. League would not pay for in-town gasoline for their umpires, although, in some cities (Buffalo, for example), the ballpark was a 20 minute drive from the hotel they put them up in. The new union president, Ryan West, decided it was time to file a grievance. The AMLU administrator at the time was Jeff Kowalczyk. He instead, and wisely so, advised the president and board to allow him to contact the IL, i.e., Mobley, and discuss the situation. He informed Mobley that they would be filing a grievance, and they were down to their last day on it, but they wanted to not "blindside" the IL over this. Mobley appreciated the gesture, and informed the AMLU that he completely understood why they were filing. The situation, handled correctly, ended up being settled without a grievance...just a sit down discussion.

So...where did they go wrong?

ANDY ROBERTS and his cronies is where they went wrong! Listen to this list of truths:

As soon as Andy Roberts, from Birmingham, AL, was elected President, he immediately removed Kowalczyk, a veteran umpire who had been released earlier and now was managing the funds of the AMLU, from his position. Kowalczyk had placed the money of the AMLU in a fund that would have matured in the fall of 2005, just in time to go to the negotiating table. This money was "mysteriously" removed from the account at the request of Roberts. There was a early withdrawal penalty on the money, which actually cost the AMLU a net loss of thousands of dollars if you factor the return on investment lost and the withdrawal penalties. The money was put into annuities, which reap great financial rewards for the agent who gains the commission...PS...the annuities are in BIRMINGHAM, where Roberts works in selling...oh, my...annuities...so guess who gets the commission???

As soon as Andy Roberts was elected President, he immediately removed Beth Saindon, the labor attorney who was involved in the first negotiations in 2001. Ask anyone in pro baseball about Beth, and they will tell you, "Management would do ANYTHING to get rid of Beth from the room." Beth was a THORN in the side of PBUC. She is the major reason there was a deal in 2001, PERIOD. Roberts replaced Saindon with Robert Weaver...ROBERT WHO??? Weaver is the attorney who told the union after three short weeks of striking, "This is the best deal you'll get from them." Gee, what a brilliant strategy! Oh, and by the way...Weaver is from BIRMINGHAM...are you seeing the picture?

As soon as Andy Roberts was elected President, he immediately shutout all access to any umpires who had been released. Several former umpires have attempted to better the conditions for their former brethren, only to have communication shut off. The AMLU was set up in a way to allow umpires who were released to have some say, albeit much smaller, in the union. A real leader would embrace the words of their colleagues, not shut them out. Then, after the negotiations started in late 2005, the AMLU by-laws were "mysteriously changed" to allow released umpires to remain on the Board of Directors or the Officers positions. Guess who fell under that? Brian Hale, Vice President of the AMLU...Oh, by the way...Did you know Brian is from BIRMINGHAM?

They also have grieved every little incident that has occured in his tenure, instead of working with the management staff. No calls, no, "hey, can we sit down and talk about this before we have to grieve it?" Nope, not this group...take it to the NLRB. Why do you think management is playing hardball? It's because they have NO RESPECT for the AMLU anymore after their whine here, whine there, whine everywhere approach.

The point of this post is everything Andy Roberts has touched has gone to hell in a handbasket. This needs to be read by every single AMLU member to realize what has happened. As a former member, I'm embarrased and ashamed and sorry what has happened to these poor umpires. They asked for it, they got it, but I don't think they realized WHAT they had lost when they voted for Roberts and his cronies.

It's time the AMLU either disbanded, or the membership reformed with a new union, a new leadership group, and MOST DEFINITELY a board of directors that are not CURRENT UMPIRES...there is too much temptation to save your own skin at the price of your friends' skin when the Fhit hits the San...

I wish everyone of them the best of luck, and if you are reading this and know an AMLU member...please please please pass this onto them.

[your boss]

so, this is the brotherhood they refer to.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

no thanks

[WhatWuzThatBlue]

Maybe Jiggy and SoCalBlue will acknowledge that my sources may have been better than they suspected. At least five months ago I wrote that Andy and the boys up top were selling the membership a bill of goods. I took a lot of flak for it but continued to implore the membership to disband the union and either start a new one or sign individual contracts to prevent the inevitable. I offered that they were wasting their talent and the dream would soon end. Does anyone recall those posts?

Now it seems that the more the public discovers about the situation, the more it sees that greed has played a major hand in this fiasco. Few of us have found fault with the individual umpires. The machine seems to be destroying those on board rather than those in the gun sights. Even the amateurs, who are targets of their terror, have weathered the storm.

I can't imagine what the 2/3 were thinking. PBUC is holding a Royal Flush and AMLU still thinks they can bluff them.

[orangeump]

you are a genius, sir. you should go into a new line of work, maybe a fotrune teller?

[WhatWuzThatBlue]

Thank you!

I'm looking for a new landscaper, now that my illegal immigrant contractors may have to go home. If you aren't busy for the rest of the season, er, I mean summer, you should give me a call.

Really...

[D-Man]

While I still fully support thier efforts to make their situation better, it's looking more like the worst case scenario may be the result. That still may be better for the "game" though. The system will have to be dismantled. Sure, the games will go on with replacements and I truly respect their courage, albeit with selfish motive. I can't fathom that this will be a long term solution. Short A will start soon and the talent pool will get thinner. I agree with WWTB in that there are many real talented replacements. Their problem isn't necessarily ability. It's 3 man instincts and the rigors of a 140 game season. OK, A ball uses 2 man crews but if umps have been working higher levels, it's still going to be a long season.

I agree it seems to be a futile strike if you look at it through selfish eyes. Think about what it's going to do for the system as a whole. Local guys may still get a piece of the pie when PBUC puts this all back together. Only the true elite will get through UDC and then only work the highest levels (AA and AAA, perhaps). That way there aren't 220 guys trying to slip through that narrow door but maybe half that many. PBUC can work them through more quickly. No more stringing 30 somethings along for peanuts following an empty promise. After five years, tag a guy for MLB until a space opens up for him.

Everyone umps for their own reasons. I don't need their games. I have a job, a family and a life. I try not to succeed by the failure of others but on my own merits. For those of you working the games that have friends in the system, I hope your relationships heal. For those of you that didn't work, I hope little Jimmy will still get to go to private school this fall.

Rest assured, I will always have your back.

D-Man

[SAump]

"If you aren't busy for the rest of the season, er, I mean summer, you should give me a call."

Careful, that may be a five month summer in his parts. But try to improve the quality of your life while your there. He already knows he could hire you to work through the rest of the year too. Autumn ball needs raking, winter ball needs shoveling, and spring trainng needs cleaning. But he really isn't interested in keeping YOU around long term. So remember, it is only TEMP related work.

[JIGGY]

Originally Posted by WhatWuzThatBlue

Maybe Jiggy and SoCalBlue will acknowledge that my sources may have been better than they suspected. At least five months ago I wrote that Andy and the boys up top were selling the membership a bill of goods. I took a lot of flak for it but continued to implore the membership to disband the union and either start a new one or sign individual contracts to prevent the inevitable. I offered that they were wasting their talent and the dream would soon end. Does anyone recall those posts?

Now it seems that the more the public discovers about the situation, the more it sees that greed has played a major hand in this fiasco. Few of us have found fault with the individual umpires. The machine seems to be destroying those on board rather than those in the gun sights. Even the amateurs, who are targets of their terror, have weathered the storm.

I can't imagine what the 2/3 were thinking. PBUC is holding a Royal Flush and AMLU still thinks they can bluff them.

You are only too ready to prove your ignorance. Any person reading your mindless dribble is wasting valuable time they could otherwise use to watch tv or clip their toenails.

[WhatWuzThatBlue]

It's okay to admit that you were wrong...again.

My mindless drivel keeps proving accurate while your posts keep showing why the AMLU guys will never have a chance. The proof is in the pudding, buddy.

Did you help author the latest spin from AMLU about the ejection of the Ottawa Lynx coach. Yeah, he couldn't have been pissed off because his .400 ball club just gave up an eighth inning go ahead run. Nah, his tirade after the ball game was fodder for the same guys that dismiss most ejected Skipper's reactions. It's funny that the very same guys that say that the players and coaches don't know the rules let alone umpiring are giving some of them full credit. Do you think they will give equal coverage to the Mercury News article about how the umpires are doing a great job?

Go back to clipping your toes and watching TV. I have to get my gear ready for tomorrow's game. You could come watch it and critique if you want. We all know that your are completely objective and terribly skilled.

[Carl Childress]

Originally Posted by WhatWuzThatBlue

Now it seems that the more the public discovers about the situation, the more it sees that greed has played a major hand in this fiasco. Few of us have found fault with the individual umpires. The machine seems to be destroying those on board rather than those in the gun sights. Even the amateurs, who are targets of their terror, have weathered the storm.

I can't imagine what the 2/3 were thinking. PBUC is holding a Royal Flush and AMLU still thinks they can bluff them.

I had determined not to weigh in on this issue, but enough is enough.

Greed? This is a new low, even for WhatWuzThatBlue.

You call "greed" asking for a wage that's far, far below the poverty level?

Tell me: Which of you would work for $6500 for two-and-a-half months? Even though your family is eligible for food stamps, it would be next-to-impossible. Oh, you say, there's the off-season job. Right: You starve while you're working and then return to some job where you can take off for 10 weeks without losing your place in the pecking order. Not even a pizza delivery "boy" could do that.

The so-called "arbitrator's" offer was $100 raise and $2 more per diem, but the $500 deductible for insurance remained for the duration of the six-year contract.

Boys and girls, it's time for you to understand what's happening. The major advantage MiLB has is that umpires are ambitious. We want to move up, and apparently we're willing to do it at any cost. At least, that's what MiLB is banking on.

When the amateur umpiring in any small town improves, so do the players. That's undeniable. Major league clubs throw around millions. MILLIONS. They own minor league teams, but they do not support the minor leagues. According to Mike Fitzpatrick in his interview for Officiating.com, the umpire salaries are all paid from gate receipts and other local revenues of the various clubs.

But there's a huge, untaxed amount of money lying around that could be used to subsidize minor league umpires. Here, courtesy of USA Today, is a table showing the yearly payrolls of the major league teams:

Arizona Diamondbacks $60,000,000
Atlanta Braves $90,000,000
Baltimore Orioles $73,000,000
Boston Red Sox $120,000,000
Chicago Cubs $94,000,000
Chicago White Sox $103,000,000
Cincinnati Reds $61,000,000
Cleveland Indians $56,000,000
Colorado Rockies $41,000,000
Detroit Tigers $83,000,000
Florida Marlins $15,000,000
Houston Astros $93,000,000
Kansas City Royals $47,000,000
Los Angeles Angels $103,000,000
Los Angeles Dodgers $98,000,000
Milwaukee Brewers $58,000,000
Minnesota Twins $63,000,000
New York Mets $101,000,000
New York Yankees $195,000,000
Oakland Athletics $62,000,000
Philadelphia Phillies $88,000,000
Pittsburgh Pirates $47,000,000
San Diego Padres $70,000,000
San Francisco Giants $90,000,000
Seattle Mariners $88,000,000
St. Louis Cardinals $89,000,000
Tampa Bay Devil Rays $35,000,000
Texas Rangers $68,000,000
Toronto Blue Jays $72,000,000
Washington Nationals $63,000,000

That's a total of $2,326,000,000 PER YEAR. That's two BILLION, 326 MILLION dollars.

Let's levey a 1% tax on that sum, paid for out of the players' salaries. ONE PERCENT would raise $23,260,000. Assuming 220 minor league umpires, that works out to about $106,000 each. Add to that the current MiLB contribution, and you have the funds to maintain a stable of professional (and professionally paid) umpires.

You would have the very best umpires. The very best umpires in the minor leagues means the very best players in the major leagues.

I have been shocked by the amount of vitriol and animosity displayed here against a small band of courageous brothers. But we're like the lobsters in the barrel. As soon as one reaches the top, inches from escape and safety, the others pull him back down. "They" made it, and we didn't. We're still working 14u in the summer, JV in the spring.

Their success should be our success. Shame! For shame!

[DIV2ump]

Originally Posted by Carl Childress

I had determined not to weigh in on this issue, but enough is enough.


Let's levey a 1% tax on that sum, paid for out of the players' salaries. ONE PERCENT would raise $23,260,000. Assuming 220 minor league umpires, that works out to about $106,000 each. Add to that the current MiLB contribution, and you have the funds to maintain a stable of professional (and professionally paid) umpires.

I understand your thoughts but MLB dumped the umpire program on the minors and told the minors to pay for it about ten years ago. Do you really think MLB wants spend money on it after getting rid of the umpire program?

[Carl Childress]

Originally Posted by DIV2ump

I understand your thoughts but MLB dumped the umpire program on the minors and told the minors to pay for it about ten years ago. Do you really think MLB wants spend money on it after getting rid of the umpire program?

You intimate they wouldn't, and you're probably right. MLB hates umpires. HATES them. But perhaps when the current agreement runs out, that could be one of the issues in negotiation.

Remember, my proposal is for a "tax" on the players' salaries. Alex Rodriguez can afford 1% a year, especially since it would be deductible. Remember, too, the players cannot do without the umpires. It's only right that they share some of the burden of paying them.

The fans would love this idea, and it would be a public relations disaster if the player's union opposed it. "ONE PERCENT," Joe says, while sipping on his Coors Lite. "I'm paying #$3.00 a gallon for gas, and they're griping about one percent?"

[Justme]

Originally Posted by Carl Childress

Let's levey a 1% tax on that sum, paid for out of the players' salaries. ONE PERCENT would raise $23,260,000. Assuming 220 minor league umpires, that works out to about $106,000 each. Add to that the current MiLB contribution, and you have the funds to maintain a stable of professional (and professionally paid) umpires.

So you want to take the money from MLB players and give it to the minor league umpires? You consider it the job of the MLB players to pay for the training of the umpires? Since you earn money from the sport of baseball maybe you should also pay a 1% tax on your earnings, isn’t that what your logic dictates?

While I support every person’s right to make as much money as they can it still boils down to a few basic things:
1. How important is their job to the industry? This is determined by the industry.
2. What is the supply and demand? Are there 1000’s of people trying for a couple of hundred jobs?

Originally Posted by Carl Childress

You would have the very best umpires. The very best umpires in the minor leagues means the very best players in the major leagues.

This is not a necessary correct. Paying someone more money doesn't make them better employees. If you double the minimum wage would you get your fries faster at the local fastfood joint?

Originally Posted by Carl Childress

Their success should be our success. Shame! For shame!

I guess its shame, shame on me. I don't agree with you that the MLB players owe the umpires a living. I built a business without anyone giving me 1% of their salaries and there were years when I brought home less than these umpires do.

They are apprentices. They are in the minors learning their trade. To my understanding working in the minor leagues is not meant to be the end of a career path, it’s the beginning. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices to reach your goals.

IMHO your plan hints of Socialism.

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by Justme

They are apprentices. They are in the minors learning their trade. To my understanding working in the minor leagues is not meant to be the end of a career path, it’s the beginning. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices to reach your goals.

IMHO your plan hints of Socialism.

Since you continue to say the AMLU umpires are mere apprentices let's discuss apprentice wages shall we. For example, the average scale of a first year apprentice in the building trades is 45% of journeyman wages. Each year as their hours increase in the trade their percentage goes up until it finally tops out at 90% of journeymen scale sometime during their last year of indenturement. All the while they share the same benefits as the journeymen. Same health care plan, same annuity contribution percentage, and same pension percentage.

So if we were to translate that into the percentage of the wages of the lowest level pay scale in MLB, it would come out to $40,500 in just salary alone for a first year umpire. A veteran of AAA waiting for his shot at the next level, should then be making $81,000. in just salary. I'm not saying that these numbers aren't way high for a MiLB umpire, because they are. But, if you insist on referring to them as apprentices you should do more research into what comparable apprentice wages are.


Tim.

[Carl Childress]

Originally Posted by Justme

So you want to take the money from MLB players and give it to the minor league umpires? You consider it the job of the MLB players to pay for the training of the umpires? Since you earn money from the sport of baseball maybe you should also pay a 1% tax on your earnings, isn’t that what your logic dictates?

While I support every person’s right to make as much money as they can it still boils down to a few basic things:
1. How important is their job to the industry? This is determined by the industry.
2. What is the supply and demand? Are there 1000’s of people trying for a couple of hundred jobs?

This is not a necessary correct. Paying someone more money doesn't make them better employees. If you double the minimum wage would you get your fries faster at the local fastfood joint?

I guess its shame, shame on me. I don't agree with you that the MLB players owe the umpires a living. I built a business without anyone giving me 1% of their salaries and there were years when I brought home less than these umpires do.

They are apprentices. They are in the minors learning their trade. To my understanding working in the minor leagues is not meant to be the end of a career path, it’s the beginning. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices to reach your goals.

IMHO your plan hints of Socialism.

Double the minimum wage and you'll cut in half the problems you have in the Drive-thru.

You built your business, not by retaining 1% of your employees' wages, but by keeping as much as you could while still being able to hire workers. Your "tax" was, as you know, far more than one percent.

My plan hints of socialism? Let me tell you socialism: medicare, defense, social security, homeland security, roads, levees (except in New Orleans). My plan does not scatter the money over the general populace.

And besides, if socialism is so bad, why is it built into the fabric of society everywhere? Remember Star Trek II: The good of the many outweighs the good of the few or the one.