In some respects, minor leaguers banding together in an effort to join a union happened in an eyeblink.
Advocates for Minor Leaguers, a nonprofit that tried to bring to light the conditions and wages provided to minor leaguers, was founded just two years ago. On Aug. 29, the group was absorbed by the Major League Baseball Players Association, which announced it was taking steps toward unionizing the athletes a step below from the majors. And Tuesday — just eight days later — the Players Association said more than half of the affiliated minor leaguers have voted to approve joining the union, which would represent them and enable collective bargaining.
In some respects, minor leaguers banding together in an effort to join a union took more than 100 years, after tens of thousands of players had no say in their pay or treatment.
“It’s about time,” said Eric Brown, a Connecticut-based attorney who represents unions, athletes and employees. “They’re so underpaid, and not just underpaid, but their working conditions are so poor, that it just seemed to me that they really have been taken advantage of essentially because they don’t have a lot of bargaining power.
