Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 7, 1995 TAG: 9502070098
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
The president hoped the additional time would allow players and owners to settle the six-month walkout themselves, but there appeared to be little chance of that.
Instead of talking about an agreement, players refiled their unfair labor practice charge against owners following the start of management's signing freeze.
``On this 100th anniversary of Babe Ruth's birth, the Babe would not be enormously optimistic for any quick settlement right now,'' Labor Secretary Robert Reich said.
W.J. Usery, a former Labor Secretary appointed to mediate by Clinton on Oct.14, said he would try to cajole the sides into a voluntary solution.
``I refuse to be pessimistic,'' Usery said, ``although it is very difficult to seem to find a voluntary agreement between the parties.''
Usery has led the sides through six rounds of negotiations with little movement. He met separately with both sides Monday night.
``He didn't want to leave any stone unturned,'' Reich said, ``didn't want to really risk not thinking of and not giving both parties a full opportunity for resolving this dispute. The president agreed to wait until 3 o'clock today for former secretary Usery's final reports and recommendations.''
Neither side knew what Clinton would do if they rejected the plan. The president could propose special legislation to enact terms of a settlement or binding arbitration, but both types of bills would have to be approved by the House and Senate.
``Certainly from public comments by members of Congress, we sense that they share the president's sense of frustration that the strike has continued for too long,'' White House spokesman Mike McCurry said. ``We detect among many members of Congress a desire to see baseball get back on the boards for 1995.''
Near the end of his news conference, Usery dropped a hint that his plan might become legislation.
``When you have to write a recommendation that goes to the president of the United States and may be used other ways, it takes a lot of time to do that,'' he said.
Rep. John Boehner, an Ohio congressman who chairs the House Republican caucus, said he didn't think Congress ``ought to involve ourselves in this labor dispute.''
``I think disputes between labor and management ought to be resolved between labor and management,'' Boehner said. However, he added, ``If he [Clinton] does send something up here we'd take a look at it.''
Usery said he began his day at 4:30 a.m., three hours after going to sleep, but still couldn't finish his proposal before meeting with Clinton shortly after 5 p.m.
``After discussions with the parties, and especially with the players' representatives, I felt it incumbent upon me that I spend some more time talking with them,'' Usery said. ``Not only have I listened them out, I listened them out very much today, including carrying a letter to the president that the players had given me.''
Players, thinking a third-party solution would be closer to their proposals than the owners, wanted the president to hear their views as directly as possible.
``We expressed our opinions and concerns on the matter,'' Atlanta Braves pitcher Tom Glavine said. ``We didn't want to send a letter to him from our lawyers. We wanted it to be from the players. We didn't ask for anything; we didn't demand anything.
Clinton had demanded a settlement or progress by Monday, the 179th day of the strike.
``They're working at least,'' Clinton said before meeting with Usery. ``I just keep telling them to play ball.
``It's just a few hundred folks trying to figure out how to divide nearly $2 billion. They ought to be able to figure that out,'' Clinton said.
Players and owners broke off joint talks Saturday and didn't talk Sunday, ignoring Clinton's order that they try to resolve things themselves. No talks were held Monday before Usery's second trip to the White House in two days.
``We'll have to wait and see what system Bill recommends to both parties,'' Braves president Stan Kasten said. ``Obviously, any delay will jeopardize spring training.''
by CNB