The PBUC and the AMLU’s negotiating committee came to an agreement, which was sent to the membership on April 28.
The offer that was rejected called for a $100 a month increase commencing this season, plus a $2 across-the-board increase in per diems that would increase gradually by $12 through 2011.
That offer was scoffed at by a veteran American League scout who covers the International League.
"Why can't major league baseball come to an agreement and pay these guys a worthwhile salary for something that's supposed to be a profession," he queried. "If this is a profession why should they have to have a job in the off-season? Do minor league players have to have a job in the off-season?
The rejected offer was not followed up by further talks. MiLB has limited its response to a simple statement:
“We have been ready and willing to negotiate in good faith all along,” said Steve Densa, V.P. of Media Relations for Minor League Baseball. "We will play all scheduled games [with our replacement umpires].”
Most of the talking has taken place outdoors. The AMLU has been amplifying talk by players and managers about the "quality" of work by replacement umps that lack the training of their professional counterparts.
"I don't know what the issues are on either side and I don't want to get into it," said a manager. "But I know from a personal standpoint there has been something missing this year. You're talking about consistency of strike zones. You're talking about judgment on bases. You're talking about interpretation of rules. You're talking about control aspects … pretty much everything you can get into."
On May 11 major league umpires Tim Timmons, Randy Marsh, Angel Hernandez, Hunter Wendelstedt and Sam Holbrook joined about a dozen striking umpires in a picket line in front of Cooper Stadium before a Columbus Clippers' day game against Richmond.
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