Late last night several things were reported about what to expect today from the MLBPA, but most importantly, Max Scherzer, one of the Union's highest officers, made a statement. Scherzer's statement, along with the reporting from the Athletic matches up. The Union will not be 1/
responding to management's proposal on pay reductions. As I've stated for weeks, by responding to management's proposal, the Union would be reopening and essentially voiding the March agreement on pro rata pay. Scherzer's statement was definitive on that subject, and 2/
he's not merely a player. He's an officer in the Union. He was authorized to make his statement and it was carefully worded.
@Ken_Rosenthal @EvanDrellich report that the proposal the Union will make deals with the length of the season. This schedule proposal is hours of work 3/
@Ken_Rosenthal @EvanDrellich report that the proposal the Union will make deals with the length of the season. This schedule proposal is hours of work 3/
under the NLRA's mandatory subjects of bargaining: wages, hours, and terms and other conditions of employment. It's not wages, despite its link to pay based upon the March agreement for pro rata pay. The Athletic reporters also shared the economic feasibly language from 4/
the March MOU... the commissioner’s office will provide to the union a proposed schedule “using best efforts to play as many games as possible, while taking into account player safety and health, rescheduling needs, competitive considerations, stadium availability, 5/
and the economic feasibility of various alternatives.”
They summarized it as " the unilateral ability to determine whether the season will begin, and by extension, a heavy influence on what type of schedule will be played." 6/
They summarized it as " the unilateral ability to determine whether the season will begin, and by extension, a heavy influence on what type of schedule will be played." 6/
So, what does the schedule proposal really do? It is the Union doing exactly what management did in its last proposal. The Union negotiated away to the Commissioner the discretion of when to start the season and for how long it will go. Now, they are proposing to reopen that 7/
portion of the March MOU.
It's a very tactical move. The Union is saying, You want to reopen our pay agreement. We won't. We want to open our agreement giving you the right to schedule the season.
It's a parallel proposal that will go nowhere for the exact same reason. 8/
It's a very tactical move. The Union is saying, You want to reopen our pay agreement. We won't. We want to open our agreement giving you the right to schedule the season.
It's a parallel proposal that will go nowhere for the exact same reason. 8/
The subject has been agreed to and foreclosed. Without mutual consent of the parties it cannot be reopened. There is no way management will reopen this section on unilateral discretion. The Union has found a very strong way of proving its point that the March agreement is 9/
in full force and effect and should not be reopened.
Now, let's bargain the issues that we haven't concluded, like health and safety so we can begin playing again.
There will be no proposal on pay.
/end
Now, let's bargain the issues that we haven't concluded, like health and safety so we can begin playing again.
There will be no proposal on pay.
/end
