Nlrb Expected To Cite Owners Baseball Negotiations Delayed While Sides Meet With Federal Body On Player Charges
The resumption of baseball’s strike talks was postponed Monday, with owners bracing for an unfavorable ruling on the players’ unfair labor practice charge.
Both sides, who aren’t sure when talks will resume, will meet separately today in Washington with the National Labor Relations Board.
Even some of management’s labor lawyers think the agency will rule for the players, who claim owners last month unilaterally revoked salary arbitration and individual bargaining between players and clubs. If the agency issues a complaint, it could seek an injunction in federal court to restore the old work rules, including salary arbitration.
“Everybody has speculated on things,” acting commissioner Bud Selig said in Milwaukee, “but I learned long ago there’s no sense on that. Whatever is, is.”
Management’s negotiating committee already had gathered Monday in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., the scheduled site of the talks, to formulate the “best offer” they were asked to present by mediator W.J. Usery.
Negotiations, which had been scheduled to resume today or Wednesday, were postponed after NLRB general counsel Fred Feinstein summoned players and owners to Washington.
“It’s kind of fruitless to prepare a best offer when the NLRB thing is hanging over our heads,” said management negotiator John Harrington, chief executive officer of the Boston Red Sox. “It’s a distraction, is what it is. It’s unfortunate that these complaints are there and that the NLRB has decided to take action at this time.”
Union head Donald Fehr said owners called off negotiations when they were told Feinstein wanted to meet with both sides.
“Win, lose or draw, we’d like to resume negotiations as soon as we can, because we still have to find a way to make a deal,” Fehr said. “We hope they’re ready to resume almost immediately.”
The owners who remained in Florida planned to leave today and said they will decide on their next action after Feinstein’s meeting. Both sides said they hoped bargaining will resume this week.
“Clubs have stated it is not possible to comply with my request that the clubs put forward their best offer until they can receive and assess the decision of the general counsel,” Usery said.
“In view of this pending action by the National Labor Relations Board, I have therefore postponed the negotiations… . I will stay in contact with the parties, and when the situation regarding this matter has been clarified, a determination will be made as to when” to resume.
Players say they would end the strike if a judge issues an injunction. But owners may in turn lock out players and start the season April 2 with the replacements who have been at spring training.