Major League Baseball isn’t going to drag minor league players into extra innings.
The league will voluntarily recognize the minor league players’ efforts to unionize under the umbrella of the Major League Baseball Players Association, commissioner Rob Manfred announced Friday.
“We, I believe, notified the MLBPA today that we’re prepared to execute an agreement on voluntary recognition. I think they’re working on the language as we speak,” Manfred said during a news conference to announce on-field rules changes for next season.
Agreeing to voluntarily recognize the minor league union will come after the two sides agree on a card check agreement, The Athletic reported.
On the same day he announces a huge set of rule changes, Rob Manfred says MLB will voluntarily recognize minor league players' unionization efforts. (Seth Wenig/AP)
The move comes three days after the MLBPA revealed more than 50% of minor leaguers returned signed authorization cards backing the MLBPA’s efforts to bring them into the fold.
It was at this point that MLBPA deputy executive director Bruce Meyer requested voluntary recognition of the union as the bargaining agent for the minor leaguers in a letter sent Tuesday to deputy MLB commissioner Dan Halem.
Voluntary recognition means the MLBPA can skip the extra step of having the National Labor Relations Board hold an authorization election among the minor leaguers.
Roughly 5,000 to 6,500 minor leaguers will be under the MLBPA’s umbrella. The union previously announced they hired staff from Minor League Advocates, a non-profit group that gives a voice to minor leaguers, to unite efforts in the lengthy unionization process.
The vast majority of minor leaguers have not been previously been represented by the union, which intends to form a separate bargaining unit with its own dues and governance structure, such as player representatives and an executive board.
MLB raised weekly minimum salaries for minor leaguers in 2021 to $400 at rookie and short-season levels, $500 at Class A, $600 at Double-A and $700 at Triple-A. For players on option, the minimum is $57,200 per season for a first big league contract and $114,100 for later big league contracts.
In addition, MLB this year began requiring teams to provide housing for most minor leaguers.
Friday’s news comes on the heels of the MLB announcing a huge set of rule change, which will go into effect in 2023.
Copyright © 2022, New York Daily News
Copyright © 2022, New York Daily News