Labor & Employment Law

Umps Make Right Call, Vote for OPEIU Affiliation

By Mike Hall

No arguing with the umpire on this call. The 215-member Association of Minor League Umpires (AMLU) voted by 91 percent to affiliate with the Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU).

AMLU President Shaun Francis says the umpires’ decision:

“is the next step in a progression toward improving the lives and working conditions of some of the hardest working and most underappreciated people in the game.”

The life of a minor league umpire is difficult, with low pay, no vacation or sick time and no ability to return home during the long season, which lasts from spring training in March to mid to late September. Salary for a minor league umpire starts at $1,800 per month and is only paid during the season, forcing the umpires to work a second or third job during the off-season.

The AMLU was formed in 2000. Prior to that, minor league umpires had been working without any representation. One of the umpires’ major goals was to secure health insurance, a benefit they were able to acquire for their members after several years of employment. Another was a ranking and promotion system to standardize movement up through the various leagues. Despite those victories and a 2006 strike that was honored by 100 percent of the minor league umpires, some key goals have not been reached.

OPEIU President Michael Goodwin says the union will help the umpires:

achieve the benefits and protections they need. We look forward to working with them to negotiate a strong contract that will afford them the respect they deserve and the salary and benefits they’ve earned.

The AMLU will now be known as AMLU/OPEIU Guild 322 (3 balls, 2 strikes, 2 outs!).

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on February 24, 2010 (boomark / email).