22 Years of Labor Peace
- Thread starter Darnell's Son
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For all the crap Selig gets--much of it deserved--the labor peace is a huge check mark in his favor. Work stoppages in what was it, 72, 81, 85, and 94 then 22 years of not just peace but the implementation of a PED testing program and a domestic violence program.
I'm concerned this time though. Salaries as a percentage of team revenues have been dropping. We're finally in an era where even the poorest clubs can keep a couple of their best players once they hit free agency. I'd like to maintain that and not just because it limits how much the Yankees can flex their financial might.
I'm concerned this time though. Salaries as a percentage of team revenues have been dropping. We're finally in an era where even the poorest clubs can keep a couple of their best players once they hit free agency. I'd like to maintain that and not just because it limits how much the Yankees can flex their financial might.
For all the credit he gets for 22 years of labor peace, it should be remembered that he was one of the prime movers behind the disastrous work stoppage of '94 and the subsequent effort to use replacement players in '95.
He deserves credit for learning, but that credit should be shared with the MLBPA and the players themselves. Some credit should go to the owners, but the vast majority have been dragged kicking and screaming into the era of prosperity and labor peace. It will be interesting to see how aggressive they are towards the players union the next CBA negotiation.
He deserves credit for learning, but that credit should be shared with the MLBPA and the players themselves. Some credit should go to the owners, but the vast majority have been dragged kicking and screaming into the era of prosperity and labor peace. It will be interesting to see how aggressive they are towards the players union the next CBA negotiation.
I have to believe that in this environment with a focus on inequality, at least one side will not be dumb.
If the baseball players union were a real union, their biggest demand would be for significant expansion over the next decade. With the opening of Cuba, and continued success of Korean and Japanese players, there is an abundance of talent. MLBPA should set a goal of 36 teams by 2025, with two coming online in 2019, 2022, and 2025.
Then seek to raise the salaries of players in the minors but on the 40 man roster, and those for MLBPA members on minor league deals. To do the latter without the unintended consequence of pricing out marginal major leaguers from AAA though, they'll also have to argue for significant increases in AA and AAA salaries generally.
But that's what a real union would do. The MLBPA is of the superstars, by the superstars, and for the superstars.
If the baseball players union were a real union, their biggest demand would be for significant expansion over the next decade. With the opening of Cuba, and continued success of Korean and Japanese players, there is an abundance of talent. MLBPA should set a goal of 36 teams by 2025, with two coming online in 2019, 2022, and 2025.
Then seek to raise the salaries of players in the minors but on the 40 man roster, and those for MLBPA members on minor league deals. To do the latter without the unintended consequence of pricing out marginal major leaguers from AAA though, they'll also have to argue for significant increases in AA and AAA salaries generally.
But that's what a real union would do. The MLBPA is of the superstars, by the superstars, and for the superstars.
That was an excellent article, and a well-timed reminder. I was a little disappointed, though, to not get a refresher on what the 1994 strike was about, what issues were contested, what machinations occurred and how it was ultimately resolved. The stuff about the lead-up and the aftermath was great, but having been only a little leaguer at the time, my recollection of the details of the strike itself are quite faded.
But yes, Selig deserves a ton of praise for forging a decent relationship with the MLBPA after all that had transpired. It should also be mentioned that MLB Advanced Media is not only a great streaming service, but was from its beginning a place where groundbreaking tech advances were made in streaming service (I mean, Gameday was released in 2001; there was barely an nba.com back then).
And if I were to pick one real gripe with the players' "union", it would be how it treats minor leaguers, not its lack of push for international expansion - but that's a sideshow when compared with sustaining The Show.
But yes, Selig deserves a ton of praise for forging a decent relationship with the MLBPA after all that had transpired. It should also be mentioned that MLB Advanced Media is not only a great streaming service, but was from its beginning a place where groundbreaking tech advances were made in streaming service (I mean, Gameday was released in 2001; there was barely an nba.com back then).
And if I were to pick one real gripe with the players' "union", it would be how it treats minor leaguers, not its lack of push for international expansion - but that's a sideshow when compared with sustaining The Show.
This isn't exhaustive, but it'll get you started: http://www.pbs.org/baseball-the-tenth-inning/dark-days/millionaires-vs-billionaires/
Thanks!
It is hard to get everything relevant into a short article like this; I checked out the link above - that seems pretty good. This is another good piece on the hows and whys: http://www.bls.gov/mlr/1997/03/art4full.pdf
FWIW, you make some interesting points, especially about MLBAM. However, their restrictions on GIFs and video - unlike, say the NBA - is a particular bugaboo for me. There's no reason to keep fans from sharing gifs of great plays. I think that just limits the growth of the game.
EDIT: wrong link
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Thanks guys, I'll check both those sources out.
and I agree on the GIFs thing, it's almost like the place is run by lawyers.
edit: holy shit, the NLRB ruling that prevented replacement players was ruled on by a young Judge Sonia Sotomayor? Talk about burying the lede!
and I agree on the GIFs thing, it's almost like the place is run by lawyers.
edit: holy shit, the NLRB ruling that prevented replacement players was ruled on by a young Judge Sonia Sotomayor? Talk about burying the lede!
Sorry about the link snafu - I somehow pasted the wrong one after reading. Here's the right one: http://www.bls.gov/mlr/1997/03/art4full.pdf
As for your edit - that is a holy shit. That's what I mean about how hard it is to get all the important stuff into a short piece like this one.
Thanks again for reading.