Major League Baseball’s request to a federal mediator to enter into stalled labor negotiations was rejected by locked out players. This move effectively eliminated any possibility of a timely start to spring training and increased their threat to shutting down work.
The Major League Baseball Players Association ruled out any third party seeking to help the warring factions of the sport, just a day after MLB requested assistance from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
“Two months later, after implementing their lockout and only two days after committing players that a counterproposal will be made, owners refused to make counterproposals and instead requested mediation,” said the union in a statement.
“After consulting with our executive board and considering a number of factors, we have decided to decline this request. It is best to return to the table to reach a fair and timely deal. All players are available to negotiate.
Following the expiration on December 2nd of a five year collective bargaining agreement, owners locked out players. Since Jan. 24-25 and Tuesday this week, there have been only three negotiating sessions on core economys, and both sides remain far apart.
Players are unhappy that payrolls fell to $4.05 Billion last year, which is the lowest total in a full year since 2015. Players are requesting an increase in salary arbitration eligibility, a substantial increase in luxury tax thresholds, minimum salaries, and new rules to stop what they claim is service time manipulation by clubs.
Teams state that they won’t increase arbitration or reduce revenue sharing and that intense negotiations on the luxury tax will be the last stage of bargaining.
Friday marked the 65th day of the lockout. It shows no signs of ending before spring training workouts begin on February 16. If there is not an agreement by February end or March early, the opening day of March 31 could be at risk. There are three weeks of exhibition and training games and several days for players who need to report to camps to go through COVID-19 protocols.
Next week’s negotiations are unlikely as owners will meet in Orlando on Tuesday through Thursday. The session will be attended by the bargaining team of management.
The ninth baseball work stoppage is the first since a series lockouts and strikes that regressed the sport between 1972-95.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s latest financial disclosure form, the players’ association made $5,000 stipends to its members from $178.5 Million in cash, U.S. Treasury securities, and investments as of Dec. 31, 2020.
There is a large disparity in income between players. 1.145 of the 1,670 players who were on a major league roster in 2013 earned less than $1 million, 771 earning less than $500,000, and 241 earning less than $100,000.
