‘Historic Achievement’: MiLB Players Form Union, Backed By MLBPA, AFL-CIO
Wednesday, September 14, 2022 at 11:03AM By Barry Janoff
September 14, 2022: Over the past three weeks, the Major League Baseball Players Assn. has made a concerted effort to organize and unionize more than 5,500 Minor League Baseball players.
MLBPA today notified MLB that the union has been officially formed.
MLBPA Is the union that represents players on the 40-man rosters of the 30 Major League baseball teams and oversees MLB Players, Inc., which exclusively represents the group commercial and licensing activities involving active players.
“I applaud this extraordinary group of young players and welcome them to the MLBPA,” Tony Clark, MLBPA executive director, said via the organization.
“This historic achievement required the right group of players at the right moment to succeed. Minor Leaguers have courageously seized that moment, and we look forward to improving their terms and conditions of employment through the process of good faith collective bargaining. “
Last week, MLBPA said it had formally affiliated with the AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations) with a “goal of supporting the efforts and strengthening the voice of the national labor movement.”
The AFL-CIO consists of 56 national and international unions, representing more than 12 million active and retired workers.
The move, no doubt, hastened the process.
MLB this past weekend said it would acknowledge the MiLB union.
“Major League Baseball has a long history of bargaining in good faith with unions, including those representing minor and major league umpires, and major league players,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said via the league.
“Based on the authorization cards gathered, MLB has voluntarily and promptly recognized the MLBPA as the representatives of minor league players. We are hopeful that a timely and fair collective bargaining agreement will be reached.”
The news quickly made its way to the White House.
“Congratulations to our country’s minor league baseball players on a historic, swift, and overdue organizing victory, and for taking this critical step,” President Joe Biden posted to social media.
“Every worker is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect — on the job and on the field.”
The effort has also been supported by Advocates for Minor Leaguers, a group that has been working to improve wages and conditions for MiLB players.
According to MLBPA’s Clark, “I want to acknowledge the tireless efforts of Harry Marino and the dedicated group he led at Advocates for Minor Leaguers, without whom this historic organizing campaign would not have been possible.”
The move to unionize came a month after MLB agreed to pay $185 million regarding a class-action lawsuit, filed by MiLB in February 2014, regarding such issues as minimum wage, overtime and quality of life. The suit itself was settled in May, less than a month before it was scheduled to go to trial.
According to Advocates For Minor Leaguers, “Players are paid only during the regular season and playoffs, despite being required to perform services year round. As a result, Minor Leaguers make an annual salary of between $4,800 and $15,400.
“Minor League players are the backbone of the professional baseball system. They deserve a living wage.”
MLBPA, AFL-CIO Join Forces To Build MiLB Union Movement
MLBPA Takes First Steps To Unionize MiLB Players
Back to Home Page