The major league players will not accept another pay cut and “flatly rejected” the league’s plan to start the season, according to a statement from union executive director Tony Clark.
The statement came after a two-hour teleconference from the executive council of the Major League Players Association and other union leaders and a day after the league rejected the players’ proposal to play 114 season games at fully paid wages. prorated.
The league wants a drastically reduced schedule so that the owners can pay the players for games.
“This week, the major leagues communicated their intention to schedule a drastically cut season unless players negotiate salary concessions,” said Clark. “The concessions they seek are in addition to the billions of dollars in reductions that players have already agreed to.”
Players believe the end-March deal with the league specified their pay for the season on a pro-rata basis, but the language in the deal also said that both sides would discuss the “economic viability” of playing games without fans amid the pandemic. by the coronavirus.
The league’s first proposal since that deal, calling for a sliding scale of new pay cuts in an 82-game season, was flatly rejected by the players.
Negotiations are at a standstill.
Players proposed more games, two years of extended Playoffs, postponement of salaries in the event of a cancellation of the 2020 Postseason, and exploration of additional category events and streaming enhancements in order to creatively bring our players to the fans and at the same time, increase the value of our product, “Clark said in the statement.
“Instead of committing, the league responded that it will cut the season, unless the players accept more salary reductions,” he added.
“The overwhelming consensus of the council is that players are ready to report, ready to return to the field, and willing to do so under unprecedented conditions that could affect health and safety, not only of themselves but also of their families as well. The league’s requirement for additional concessions was flatly rejected, “Clark said. The clock runs out relative to the start of the season, as indicated by a manager who noted that pitchers would need up to four weeks to prepare. That period jeopardizes the July 4 date for a likely start to the campaign, unless an agreement is reached earlier.
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