10:00 a.m .: The League is also in the process of setting up a fund for the workers concerned, tweets Jesse Rodgers of ESPN.
9:06 AM: The Major League Baseball Players Association announced on Friday that it would launch a $ 1 million fund for workers affected by the continued blocking of MLB and the cancellation of regular season games. The MLBPA and the AFL-CIO will administer the fund and provide assistance to “stadium workers and others who are facing financial difficulties through no fault of their own due to the blocking of MLB franchise owners”.
“There are a lot of people who make our game great,” MLBPA executive board leaders Andrew Miller and Max Scherzer said in a joint statement. “Many of them are not seen or heard, but they are vital to the fun of our games. Unfortunately, they will also be among those affected by the owner’s blocking and cancellation of games. Through this fund, we want to let them know that they have our support. “
“This fund is designed to support workers who are most affected by the blocking of MLB-impost, but whose livelihoods have been neglected by owners in their efforts to pressure players to accept a dishonest deal,” said the MLBPA CEO. Tony Clark in his own statement. .
The ongoing labor battle between Major League Baseball and the Players’ Association reached a turning point earlier this week when the union rejected the league’s “best offer” ahead of an MLB deadline to avoid canceling regular season games. Commissioner Rob Manfred announced on Tuesday that the first two series of the regular season will be canceled, not postponed, as the two sides continue to work to reach an agreement. It is widely expected that additional games will also be deleted from the schedule.
While the players, owners and negotiators leading these negotiations have been at the forefront of the labor dispute, the subsequent suspension has a far-reaching effect that will affect thousands across the industry. There are many team members (scouts, for example) whose careers have been withheld, but stadium workers and businesses around MLB stadiums / spring training sites that depend on baseball for revenue are particularly affected. The financial impact felt by third countries throughout the sport will only increase as negotiations continue.
Today’s press release states that the MLBPA and the AFL-CIO will work together to “identify the most severely affected communities and align the allocation of resources to those most in need.”