Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, August 19, 1994 TAG: 9408190072
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
Federal mediators convinced baseball owners to come to the bargaining table and said Thursday that talks to end the strike will resume next week.
A five-man delegation of owners, including some from large, medium and small markets, will go to the talks along with Richard Ravitch, management's negotiator since bargaining began 19 months ago.
``It's a positive sign,'' union head Donald Fehr said cautiously. ``I don't know if anyone should be optimistic. It depends on whether there's a change of substance along with it.''
The strike, baseball's second-longest in terms of canceled games, completed its first week Thursday, wiping out 12 more games to raise the total to 86.
Ravitch, hired three years ago with the mission of getting a salary cap for teams, had maintained the decision to keep owners away from the table was made by owners themselves. But last week, George Steinbrenner of the New York Yankees and Jerry McMorris of the Colorado Rockies said owners should join the talks.
``I think it's a healthy sign and one which will advance the negotiations at this point,'' Ravitch said.
The sides haven't met formally since last Friday, when baseball's eighth work stoppage since 1972 began. Fehr said the union wanted to resume talks this week but said management told the union it wouldn't be ready until next Tuesday or Wednesday.
``I detect no sense of urgency on the part of Dick Ravitch. None. Zero,'' Fehr said.
The union has maintained that it would be impossible to make a deal without the presence of owners. Fehr says players are caught in a dispute between large- and small-market teams, and that it is really a four-way negotiation among the union and factions of large-, medium- and small-markets owners who are unable to reach a new revenue-sharing agreement without a salary cap.
``The fact that owners are participating doesn't make it easy to reach a solution,'' Fehr said. ``It makes it less difficult.''
Even while expressing a little optimism, Fehr said the union was prepared for a long strike.
``I think the players are settled in,'' he said.
After numerous urgings from the Clinton administration, the sides agreed Saturday to accept federal mediators. Fehr and Ravitch said they planned to meet together with mediators Monday to prepare for the resumption of bargaining.
``Players and owners are hopeful we can move forward expeditiously so these joint meetings can begin next week,'' said John Calhoun Wells, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation.
Labor Secretary Robert Reich applauded the move, saying ``like millions of Americans I am eager to see this exciting season continue.''
Across Washington, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee announced renewed hearings on baseball's antitrust exemption.
Rep. Jack Brooks, a Texas Democrat, said the exemption ``has contributed to a recurring pattern of strikes, lockouts and bad faith collective bargaining that makes labor disputes in the auto, steel or coal industries look like the epitome of harmonious dialogue.''
A bill to remove the exemption in labor matters was defeated 10-7 by the Senate Judiciary Committee in June. Reps. Mike Synar, D-Okla., Major Owens, D-N.Y., and Jim Bunning, R-Ky., introduced a bill Thursday that would strip baseball of its exemption if owners unilaterally impose working conditions, such as a salary cap.
``The courts have been saying we should do something about the antitrust exemption for years,'' said Bunning, a major league pitcher from 1955-71.
Sens. Howard Metzenbaum, D-Ohio, and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, introduced similar legislation last week.
Rep. James Traficant, an Ohio Democrat, said Wednesday on the House floor that negotiators should be physically coerced into agreement.
``The mediator [should] put them in a small room, shut the doors and the windows [and] turn off the air conditioner. In about eight hours, they will be pleading and shouting, `Play Ball!''' Traficant said.
Some in management speculated that McMorris might be included on the negotiating team. They said executive council chairman Bud Selig probably would not.
Jerry Reinsdorf of the Chicago White Sox, among the most influential owners, said Thursday the presence of mediators gave him hope.
``One thing I know is that there will be a deal at some point,'' he said. ``I don't know when but you know there is going to be a deal.''
Fehr took issue with Ravitch's assertion that he welcomed owners at any time despite their decision to stay away until now.
``Unfortunately,'' Fehr said, ``Dick likes to take all sides of all issues from time to time.''
by CNB