Representatives of MLB owners and the MLBPA "tentatively"
plan to meet today or tomorrow to discuss the owners' proposed
plan to begin interleague play in '97, according to the
WASHINGTON POST. Sources say the two sides have apparently
decided to deal with interleague play "as a separate issue,
rather than incorporating it into their labor talks." Management
sources expect union approval "with little or no resistance, and
probably without the owners having to make any concessions in
return." Interleague play in '98 and beyond "apparently will be
dealt with as part of the labor negotiations." Meanwhile,
sources also tell the POST that the union will make a new labor
proposal to the owners by February 3, while NLRB New York
Regional Dir Daniel Silverman said a trial before an
administrative law judge on an unfair labor practices charge
against the owners will be postponed until March 4. The NLRB,
owners and MLBPA continue to discuss a settlement of the
complaint (Mark Maske, WASHINGTON POST, 1/25). Phillies
President Bill Giles said owners could be close to agreeing on a
on a revenue sharing plan that could pave the way for a new Basic
Agreement between management and the players "in the next few
weeks" (Paul Hagen, PHILA. DAILY NEWS, 1/24).
