ANOTHER LOCKOUT: BASEBALL OWNERS AND UMPIRES DISPUTING

     Baseball could have another labor dispute on its hands, with
its umpires.  Richie Phillips, General Counsel of the umpires'
union, accused the American and National Leagues of failing to
bargain in good faith in a complaint filed with the NLRB.
Phillips said the leagues have notified the umpires, who are paid
year-round, that they will be locked out and will stop receiving
pay on January 1.  The umpires' 4-year CBA expires December 31,
and Phillips said there has been no "substantive response" to a
proposal that would increase salaries 60% as well as increase the
postseason bonus pool.  NL President Leonard Coleman: "We
reviewed their proposals with disbelief, regarding them as
extraordinary in their largess, given the realities of the day."
There have been nine bargaining sessions, but none are currently
scheduled (Ross Newhan, L.A. TIMES, 12/23).  NL lawyer Bob Kheel
said no decision on a lockout has been made, but he noted that it
was an option (USA TODAY, 12/23).