Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 18, 1990 TAG: 9003182477
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
The players proposed binding arbitration on the key issue of arbitration eligibility. While owners did not immediately reject the plan, their chief negotiator, Chuck O'Connor, said it would be a "tough sell."
Union chief Don Fehr said the owners' new proposal on Friday was not acceptable, but after a nearly five-hour meeting of the union's executive board, Fehr said negotiations would continue today at 10:30 a.m.
"I do not suggest that I see an end to these discussions, but at least they're taking place," Fehr said.
The executive board voted unanimously on Saturday to support their negotiating committee and instructed the negotiators to "make the best effort to reach an agreement."
Fehr said that during Saturday morning's negotiations with the owners there were some very "general discussions" to see if any bridge could be formed on the two-to-three-year issue of arbitration eligibility.
"The players, to a man, have two views," Fehr said, "that they want to play baseball as soon as they can, but they want to play under an appropriate collective-bargaining agreement."
The sides met until 1:50 a.m. Saturday, broke for nine hours, then talked for another three hours in Commissioner Fay Vincent's office.
At least 50 players were in New York for the executive board meeting, and former union head Marvin Miller addressed the players.
Miller said the purpose of his talk was to give "historical perspective."
"Arbitration has been made a major subject in every negotiation for 17 years," he said. "The message was the solidarity of the organization is the key to all progress."
Miller said there were "no cracks" in the union solidarity but admitted "apparently there are some players raising questions out in the hinterlands."
When asked if there was any division among the players, Dave Winfield of the New York Yankees said: "With the 26 players [representatives] here, you don't have any sign of that. The proposals were just not adequate."
Friday's meeting was the first negotiating session in nine days. There was some progress, but there was no movement on arbitration, and the owners' spring-training lockout reached 31 days.
Owners made a new proposal, offering a $100,000 minimum salary and a $55 million yearly contribution to the benefits plan. The union said the benefits proposal essentially was acceptable, but players are asking for a $105,000 minimum.
"If we are really down to a single issue, maybe what we ought to do is submit it to binding arbitration," Fehr said. "I would like them to seriously consider it."
Under binding arbitration, a third party would select either the players' position, the owners' position or something in between.
"I think it will be a very difficult sell," O'Connor said. "That is an economic issue which, in effect, the clubs have possession. The arbitrator has only one way to go, which is to go someways toward the players' position."
Players have said they will not accept a proposal that doesn't make some movement on arbitration eligibility for players with between two and three seasons in the major leagues.
Fehr said owners gave the union indications earlier this week that they were prepared to move on the question of arbitration eligibility. If they are, though, they did not show it in Friday's proposal.
The new owners' proposal:
Calls for the minor-league minimum to increase to $25,000.
Withdraws the $4 million bonus pool proposed last week, which had been intended to get additional money to players with between two and three years of service.
Returns rosters to 25 players in 1991, the same as in last week's proposal.
There still has been no official announcement about Opening Day, scheduled for April 2. Both sides say they believe three weeks of training are needed before the season can start, which would make it too late for it to begin on time.
Late Saturday afternoon, Vincent told CBS-TV that the idea of starting the season on time was becoming a "pipe dream."
Asked about starting the season in time, Paul Molitor of the Milwaukee Brewers said, "I don't see how that can possibly happen at this time."
by CNB