Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 24, 1994 TAG: 9406290043
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
The Senate Judiciary Committee rejected a bill by Sen. Howard Metzenbaum, D-Ohio, that would remove major-league baseball's antitrust exemption in labor matters.
Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., chairman of the panel, said baseball owners were ``not a group that seems to be particularly concerned about anything except their self-interests and the players are right up there with them.''
Still, he said Congress needs ``more information about the ramifications the proposal would have beyond labor-management relations'' before becoming involved.
The committee rejected the bill 10-7. Two Democrats and five Republicans voted in favor, and six Democrats and four Republicans were against it.
The players' union said the bill would have helped forestall a walkout.
But Rich Levin of Major League Baseball said the plan ``would not have had any major impact on the negotiations.''
Bud Selig, chairman of the owners' executive committee, which is running baseball in the absence of a commissioner, said the vote ``will allow the collective bargaining process to continue unimpeded.''
Professional baseball has held an antitrust exemption since a 1922 Supreme Court decision. It precludes the Major League Baseball Players Association from suing team owners, and union officials say that could lead to the game's eighth work stoppage since 1972.
``Without the antitrust laws, we've had nothing but
strikes,'' said Donald Fehr, head of the union, speaking Wednesday. ``I believe it's largely because the owners don't feel constrained.''
Fehr was not immediately available for comment after Thursday's vote.
A four-year collective bargaining agreement between the players and owners expired Dec.31. Players are expected to set a strike date July 11 because they believe owners may declare an impasse in bargaining and unilaterally impose a salary cap after the season.
``I'm convinced that unless we pass this bill, there will be a baseball shutdown in July or August,'' Metzenbaum said.
Biden led off a series of criticisms of baseball from committee members, who complained about practically everything from baseball's rising ticket prices, to tax exemptions offered by local communities to lure teams, to a perception of arrogance among team owners and players.
But he said the legislation would not necessarily forestall a strike and Congress would be blamed for intervening.
Metzenbaum, who is retiring after this session, has tried since 1993 to eliminate the entire exemption, which owners say prevents a team from moving and provides protection for the minor leagues. He narrowed the focus of his legislation to gain support.
Even with the exemption, teams have moved and the minor leagues have shrunk.
Baseball is the only sport with a blanket antitrust exemption. The Supreme Court ruled in 1922 that baseball wasn't a business and affirmed the ruling in 1972, saying it was an anomaly that Congress had the power to remove.
``Since the Supreme Court said Congress should change the law, we've had seven straight work stoppages,'' Fehr said.
by CNB