Workforce Block: MLBPA, AFL-CIO Join Forces To Build MiLB Union Movement

By Barry Janoff

September 7, 2022: Last week, the Major League Baseball Players Assn., which represents the 1,200 players on the rosters of all 30 MLB teams, started the multi-step process that would allow the nation's 5,000 Minor League Baseball players to vote on joining the union.

Today, the MLBPA said it is formally affiliating 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 AFL-CIO consists of 56 national and international unions, representing more than 12 million active and retired workers.

“The MLBPA has a proud, 56-year history of success rooted in unity and a highly engaged membership,” Tony Clark, MLBPA executive director, said via the organization.

“We look forward to bringing that history and experience to bear as a more formal part of the movement.”

The news was revealed during an appearance by AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler and Clark at the National Press Club.

MLBPA said the AFL-CIO and many of its member unions earlier this year “offered consistent support that helped the MLBPA withstand a 99-day lockout by Major League Baseball to achieve significant improvements in a five-year collective bargaining agreement reached on March 10.”

Among other activation, MLBPA will play an “active role” in the AFL-CIO’s Sports Council, a “working group of professional athletes’ unions founded to align interests in areas of common concern with service, hospitality and other workers who support the professional sports industries.”

The Sports Council founding unions include the NFL Players Assn., the National Women's Soccer League Players Assn., the United Soccer League Players Assn.-CWA, the U.S. Women's National Team Players Assn. and the newly organized United Football Players Assn.-USW.

“The MLBPA and every single one of its 1,200 players have a home in our movement because this union understands and lives the meaning of the word solidarity by leveraging the power of sports and helping others,” Shuler said via the organization.

“Together, with our 12.5 million members, we will bring our strength to their fights, including working to organize 5,400 minor league players.”

The alliance comes a day after MLBPA asked MLB management to “voluntarily accept the union as the bargaining agent for minor leaguers,” according to AP Sports.

Bruce Meyer, the union’s deputy executive director, sent a letter to MLB deputy commissioner Dan Halem that claimed a majority of minor leaguers had signed authorization cards, also per AP Sports.

“Minor league players have made it unmistakably clear they want the MLBPA to represent them and are ready to begin collective bargaining in order to positively affect the upcoming season,” Clark said via the organization.

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

According to industry analysts, for MLBP to be able to move forward, 30% of minor-league players needed to sign authorization cards distributed by MLBPA to begin the union process.

A formal election would follow, during which more than 50% of MiLB players would have to approve representation by MLBPA.

That in turn would require MLB to recognize the union under National Labor Relations Board laws.

The MLBPA would then be able to work with MLB on a MiLB CBA.

"This organizing campaign is an investment in the future of our game and our player fraternity," said Clark of the efforts to unionize MiLB.

MLBPA Takes First Steps To Unionize MiLB Players

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