MLB umpires yesterday ended the 21-year "reign" of
MLBUA General Counsel Richie Phillips by voting 57-35 to
decertify the MLBUA and "replace it" with the Major League
Umpires Independent Organizing Committee (MLUIOC), according
to Murray Chass of the N.Y. TIMES, who reports that the
MLBUA has seven days to "file an appeal." MLBUA President
Jerry Crawford, on a possible appeal: "I would say it's
probably likely." Crawford declined to reveal grounds of
the appeal. MLUIOC member John Hirschbeck said that a
return of the 22 umpires who were fired on September 1
"would be among the new group's top priorities when it
begins negotiating" a new labor agreement with MLB officials
(N.Y. TIMES, 12/1). BLOOMBERG's Jerry Crasnick reported
that the 22 dissident umpires "will try to win back their
jobs" at an arbitration hearing December 13 in Philadelphia.
That arbitration will continue to be handled by the MLBUA
(BLOOMBERG, 11/30). In N.Y., David Waldstein reports that
the MLUIOC "will be run" by a 14-man committee "until a
leader and officers can be elected." Baltimore attorney Ron
Shapiro will "retain an advisory role." Hirschbeck said a
new union "would not have" an attorney in charge (N.Y. POST,
12/1). Hirschbeck, on Shapiro: "Ron from the beginning has
never accepted pay, and he will be with us as long as we
need to get on our feet" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 12/1).
NOTHING PERSONAL? In N.Y., Michael O'Keeffe writes that
the 57-35 vote was a "personal referendum" on Phillips and
noted that while most AL umpires "reportedly supported the
dissenters," most NL umpires "backed" Phillips (N.Y. DAILY
NEWS, 12/1). In Philadelphia, Sam Donnellon writes that
Phillips' tenure "ended quietly and dully in a conference
room" in Manhattan (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 12/1).
