Fate of Umpires Goes to Arbitrator

Fate of Ousted Umpires Goes to Arbitrator

Union rejects MLB proposal to rehire ten

New York, July 30, 2000 -- In the latest chapter on the saga of the 22 umpires whose resignations were accepted by Major League Baseball last August [click here], an arbitrator will attempt a resolution of the matter. The controversy over their reinstatement has put their fate in the hands of new union arbitrator Alan Symonette, after the former umpires rejected Major League Baseball's proposal. That plan provided for ten umpires to be rehired, six to retire and an additional six would have received buyouts.

The World Umpires Association (WUA), the union that that replaced the Major League Baseball Umpires' Association after the umpires voted their former union out, gave their old union until August to settle their differences with MLB. The WUA will try and negotiate a settlement with baseball as a hearing is scheduled for August 28.

The offer that was presented to the umpires was nearly unanimously rejected and as WUA union lawyer Larry Gibson stated "the former umpires were well within their rights to reject it." The agreement if reached would have The fate of these umpires clearly now rests with Mr. Symonette, and perhaps a viable option that both parties will agree on can happen real soon.

Brad Berfas