Frequent commenter, Bote Man, asked in a comment the status of the ongoing strike by minor league umpires. The latest word shows that the strike continues.
Minor league umpires originally went on strike on April 4. The umpires’ previous five-year agreement ended after last season. Management’s position is that minor league umpires are serving, in essence, a paid internship to potentially become major league umpires, though few minor league umpires ever reach the majors.
The contention is “[Professional Baseball Umpire Corp] is asking for raises in salary and per diem payments, along with improvements in travel, insurance and umpire safety. Management has offered a $100 a month raise and a $1 a day increase to the per diem, though the deductible for health insurance would rise from $100 to $500 a year as well. Minor League Baseball has said it has made its best and final offer to the umpires, and will not negotiate further.” Neither side is budging and no end is in sight.
The New Orleans Times-Picayune touches on the topic where the Zephyrs choose their words very carefully in weighing in on the dispute.
Bote Man | 15-Apr-06 at 10:00 am | Permalink
Hmmmm. I understand that they want that $1.00 increase in their per diem to raise it from $25 to a whopping $26 per day. I guess that works if they marry into money or the wife is an attorney. Talk about doing something for the love of the game.
The AAA guys make something like $13K for a 130-game season. The rest make $8K (I think) for 60 games.
Thanx for the update.