Statements made by Cubs President & CEO Andy MacPhail that
MLB players should not be credited for service time lost during
the strike elicited negative reactions from negotiators on both
sides, as well as USA TODAY's Hal Bodley. Bodley writes MacPhail
"was not speaking for management and might have disrupted the
peaceful atmosphere of ongoing talks." MLBPA Exec Dir Don Fehr:
"We've got enough problems in this industry without people once
again beginning to spark disputes publicly. I think it's
regrettable. He knows it's a very serious issue, and he knows
how the players feel about it." Bodley reports Randy Levine,
management's chief labor negotiator, was "astounded" when he
heard of MacPhail's remarks. Levine, who contacted Fehr to tell
him service time will be negotiated: "All issues raised by
players and the union, including service time, are issues that
are open for negotiation and discussion." MacPhail: "Randy
called me this morning and expressed his disappointment. I
didn't mean them [his remarks] to be anything other than my
opinion. I would never want to do anything to detract from the
bargaining process, but my opinions haven't changed" (USA TODAY,
3/27).
