GaryMrMets
06-08-2002, 03:02 AM
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news.jsp?ymd=20020606&content_id=45617&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp
06/06/2002 9:26 pm ET
Contraction hearing ends
By Barry Bloom / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- Labor lawyers for Major League Baseball and the players association completed oral arguments before an independent arbitrator Thursday, concluding a six-month long grievance process regarding baseball's intention to contract two teams.
Shyam Das, the arbitrator who heard the case, promised both sides again to have his decision rendered by July 15, said Frank Coonelly, a lawyer for MLB who argued baseball's position.
"I was extremely pleased with the hearings and how the legal arguments were presented, both in writing and orally before the arbitrator," Coonelly said.
In question is whether MLB can fold teams without consent of the union. The MLB Players Association filed the grievance, taking the position that MLB can't and that it must also collectively bargain the effects of folding teams, like loss of jobs and player dispersal.
The hearing began at 10 a.m. and lasted eight hours, with breaks.
Michael Weiner, Virginia Seitz and Steve Fehr argued for the union, while Coonelly and Howard Ganz represented MLB.
"This just brings the whole process to a conclusion, pending the decision," said Greg Bouris, a spokesman for the union.
Commissioner Bud Selig, after a vote of the owners, announced last November that baseball would fold two teams prior to the current season.
Though baseball never specifically designated those teams, it was widely reported they were the Montreal Expos and Minnesota Twins, the clubs with the lowest attendance and local revenue in both leagues last season.
Because of the grievance and litigation in Minnesota, Selig delayed contraction until next season. Since then, baseball has purchased and is running the Expos, who are playing their final season in Montreal. The Twins have been given a reprieve through 2003 by virtue of a settlement of the lawsuit, which was completed Thursday.
Selig, though, said Wednesday that baseball intended to contract before next season regardless of what the arbitrator decides in the grievance.
The players have been working without a new contract since last November and last month floated the idea of setting a strike date.
The two sides have had one collective bargaining session since May 2. And they are scheduled to meet for the second time in the past two weeks Friday in New York.
Barry M. Bloom is regular contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to approval by Major League Baseball or any of its clubs.
06/06/2002 9:26 pm ET
Contraction hearing ends
By Barry Bloom / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- Labor lawyers for Major League Baseball and the players association completed oral arguments before an independent arbitrator Thursday, concluding a six-month long grievance process regarding baseball's intention to contract two teams.
Shyam Das, the arbitrator who heard the case, promised both sides again to have his decision rendered by July 15, said Frank Coonelly, a lawyer for MLB who argued baseball's position.
"I was extremely pleased with the hearings and how the legal arguments were presented, both in writing and orally before the arbitrator," Coonelly said.
In question is whether MLB can fold teams without consent of the union. The MLB Players Association filed the grievance, taking the position that MLB can't and that it must also collectively bargain the effects of folding teams, like loss of jobs and player dispersal.
The hearing began at 10 a.m. and lasted eight hours, with breaks.
Michael Weiner, Virginia Seitz and Steve Fehr argued for the union, while Coonelly and Howard Ganz represented MLB.
"This just brings the whole process to a conclusion, pending the decision," said Greg Bouris, a spokesman for the union.
Commissioner Bud Selig, after a vote of the owners, announced last November that baseball would fold two teams prior to the current season.
Though baseball never specifically designated those teams, it was widely reported they were the Montreal Expos and Minnesota Twins, the clubs with the lowest attendance and local revenue in both leagues last season.
Because of the grievance and litigation in Minnesota, Selig delayed contraction until next season. Since then, baseball has purchased and is running the Expos, who are playing their final season in Montreal. The Twins have been given a reprieve through 2003 by virtue of a settlement of the lawsuit, which was completed Thursday.
Selig, though, said Wednesday that baseball intended to contract before next season regardless of what the arbitrator decides in the grievance.
The players have been working without a new contract since last November and last month floated the idea of setting a strike date.
The two sides have had one collective bargaining session since May 2. And they are scheduled to meet for the second time in the past two weeks Friday in New York.
Barry M. Bloom is regular contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to approval by Major League Baseball or any of its clubs.