Major Minors Move: MiLB CBA Officially The Real Deal After MLB Owners Approval

By Barry Janoff

April 3 2023: MLB said today that its owners voted unanimously to ratify the new CBA with MiLB players, formalizing the agreement that was approved by MiLB players on Friday.

MLB Players Assn. said “more than 99% of the thousands of Minor Leaguers who cast ballots voted to ratify the deal.

MLB owners outdid that, with the vote 30-0 in favor of the CBA, which runs 2023-2027.

"The agreement represents a giant step forward in treating minor league players as the elite professional athletes that they are. It's a historic day for these players, their families and the entire player fraternity,” MLBPA executive director Tony Clark said via the organization.

“Every past and present member of the MLBPA is proud today. This extraordinary group of players has been singularly determined, unified, educated, and engaged in the best traditions of our fraternity. Their legacy will live on for decades.”

"When Minor League players formally declared their intention to unionize last September, MLB opted to immediately and voluntarily recognize the players' rights to unionize and began negotiations on a first collective-bargaining agreement,” MLB said via the league.

“Meeting throughout the offseason, we made tremendous progress over a short period of time and are pleased to have reached a five-year agreement with the players.

“This agreement builds upon the significant effort MLB undertook four years ago to modernize baseball's player development system, including increased salaries, free housing, improved facilities, better clubhouse conditions, and reduced in-season travel with better geographical alignment. We look forward to a great season."

MLBPA Is the union that represents players on the 40-man rosters of the 30 Major League baseball teams and oversees MLB Players, Inc., which exclusively represents the group commercial and licensing activities involving active players.

This past September, Minor League Players unionized under the banner of the MLBPA following a 17-day organizing drive that resulted in voluntary recognition on Sept. 9, 2022. Negotiations on a CBA began in October.

MLBPA said it had formally affiliated with the AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations) with a “goal of supporting the efforts and strengthening the voice of the national labor movement.”

The effort has also been supported by Advocates for Minor Leaguers, a group that has been working to improve wages and conditions for MiLB players.

The AFL-CIO consists of 56 national and international unions, representing more than 12 million active and retired workers.

Highlights of the CBA include:

• A guarantee that the league will not contract Minor League affiliates during the term of the CBA

• Significant pay increases beginning immediately (baseline annual salaries will more than double at all levels)

• A new Minor League pay structure guaranteeing Players will be paid for the work they perform all year long (including retroactive pay for Spring Training 2023)

• Starting in 2024, further improvements to the recently instituted Minor League housing policy

• Improved transportation policies, including daily transportation to and from the field, individual travel, and team travel

• Increased per diem and the creation of a committee to oversee meal quality

• Improved medical rights, including second opinion rights and a longer period when medical expenses will be covered following injuries

• Improved health benefits, including extended health coverage upon contract termination
Improved retirement benefits.

Historic: MiLB Players Form Union, Backed by MLBPA, AFL-CIO

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