Are umpiring associations...

[LIUmp]

required to give work to all the umpires in their group? There is an official who has worked for our association who is threatening a lawsuit if he is not given work.

He was previously a member back in 2003-05. He had some issues with game management and control, knowledge of rules, and was generally getting into lots of trouble on the field. After taking a hiatus (he says because of work conflicts but I think due to some anger issues- he admitted to going through a 12 step anger management course), he returned this year and wanted to work.

He had an issue on field this year in his first and only tournament and didn't get assigned the following week. As a board we decided we didn't feel comfortable with him working games. Once he didn't get assigned, he became very hostile about it. He called it illegal blackballing/blacklisting. We didn't assign him for about 3 weeks. He continued to get very angry, and we told him about his on field behavior being erratic and that we would hold a meeting to determine next steps. He continued to threaten and give demands for work and talk about him contacting his lawyer, an independent contractor lawyer, about us illegally withholding games from him After meeting with him on his on field issues we decided not to use him the rest of the season. He's a loose cannon on the field. He didn't pay his dues to our association; he requested they be taken out of his game fees - he said our assignor told him we could do it this way (I tend to believe that since our assignor has done this before for certain people *SMH* although our assignor says he doesn't "recall saying that to him"). This official is aware that the dues were NOT taken out and withdrew his request to join our association.

He now demands to be given work by mid September or he is withdrawing his demand and is filing suit against our board and the individuals who have "wronged" him.

His partner sent a written documentation regarding his actions that day (not knowing the batters box extended in front of home plate, warning coaches not to come on the field or there would be ejections, and ordering a girl to come out of the dugout and bat again because it looked like she was limping and the batted ball must have hit her leg - after asking his partner for help and not calling it initially. When the fans and coaches began to laugh about the ridiculousness of the calls, he threatened to end the game unless someone left.

On a related note, he is upset about getting 2 games on Saturday and none on Sunday while another official he worked with got 4 games Saturday and 4 on Sunday. I hear this complaint a lot...why does so and so get more games than me?

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As an umpiring group, do we have to give games to our independent contractors? Do we HAVE to make it relatively equal? Can we have it in writing that there is NO guarantee of any work for anyone and sole discretion falls upon availability, proximity, and qualifications?

Anyone else have this problem?? Does this guy have any case??