NEW YORK -- The hearing on the grievance by baseball players
to block contraction resumed Thursday, then quickly recessed until
the week of Feb. 4.
Management labor lawyer Rob Manfred was the only witness
Thursday, the 11th day of testimony before arbitrator Shyam Das.
Management lawyers finished their cross-examination of Manfred, who
was called as a witness by the union.
When the hearing resumes, the union intends to put additional
questions to Manfred on redirect. After that, players intend to
call Paul Beeston, baseball's chief operating officer, and at least
two other management officials.
Only then will management lawyers begin to present their
defense, meaning the case is likely to drag on well into spring
training, which starts Feb. 14.
Das is to meet Monday with lawyers from both sides to settle
document disputes in the case and fix a more precise schedule for
the resumption of the hearing. It is possible the hearing may
resume in Tampa, Fla., where players and owners have scheduled
their yearly salary arbitration hearings from Feb. 4-21.
Owners voted on Nov. 6 to eliminate two teams before the 2002
season and although they didn't specify which franchises to fold,
Minnesota and Montreal were clearly their targets. Players claim
the decision violated their labor contract, which expired Nov. 7
but remains in force.
On Nov. 16, a Minnesota district judge issued an injunction that
forces the Twins to honor their lease at the Metrodome in 2002, and
the Minnesota Court of Appeals upheld the injunction Tuesday in a
3-0 vote.
Owners appealed Wednesday to the Minnesota Supreme Court. The
Twins' landlord, the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, is
due to submit an answer to the appeal by next Wednesday. For an
appeal to be heard, three of the seven justices must vote to accept
the case.
Lawyers for players and owners also agreed to hold negotiating
sessions next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in the Phoenix area.
Bargaining for a new labor contract has been slowed by
management's attempt to eliminate teams.
Owners have asked for a 50 percent luxury tax on the portions of
payrolls above $98 million and to increase the amount of locally
generated revenue that teams share from 20 percent to 50 percent,
after a deduction for ballpark expenses.
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