Bal Harbour, FL
Members of the Major League Baseball Players Association are on strike against their employers -- the owners of the 28 major league teams in the United States and Canada. Though their union is not affiliated with the AFL-CIO, their determination to stand together and achieve a fair settlement -- in the face of intense employer opposition -- has earned the respect and support of union members and working people everywhere. We salute them and support them in their struggle.
Like many trade unionists who are forced to strike, the baseball players are standing together to preserve the hard-fought gains of their forbears. They are battling employer attempts to assert arbitrary power. They are seeking reasonable compromise through the collective bargaining process. And, like all too many AFL-CIO trade unionists, their employers have brought in scabs to continue operations.
The AFL-CIO urges the team owners to negotiate in good faith toward a prompt settlement of the strike. We commend the players for their extraordinary solidarity, and we salute the courage and integrity of Detroit Tigers manager Sparky Anderson and Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos for their refusal to participate in the scabbing of America's pastime.