Minor league baseball players officially join MLBPA in 'historic' move

Minor league baseball players officially unionized Wednesday, joining the Major League Baseball Players Association after an arbitrator validated the union-authorization cards and MLB recognized the MLBPA as the players' bargaining representative.

The process of unionizing unfolded at rapid speed, starting with the distribution of cards on Aug. 28 and culminating barely two weeks later in the organizing of more than 5,000 players. The MLBPA, which previously had represented only the 1,200 players on major league teams' 40-man rosters, will now cover all players at each of the four affiliated levels as well as those at teams' Florida and Arizona complexes.

The parties plan to start bargaining over the minor leagues' first collective bargaining agreement following the end of the season. MLB previously had unilaterally run all aspects of the minor leagues, setting salaries, working conditions and other areas that prompted players to start organizing.

While minor league players convincing MLB to provide season-long housing before the 2022 season registered as a momentous victory, the yearslong effort at organizing — and the rapidity of the union's formation — is the most substantive yet for the players.

«This historic achievement required the right group of players at the right moment to succeed,» MLBPA executive director Tony Clark said. «Minor leaguers have courageously seized that moment, and we look forward to improving their terms and conditions of employment through the process of good-faith collective bargaining.»

Commissioner Rob Manfred last Friday said the league planned to voluntarily recognize the union after it said that more than half of players' returned cards were in favor of the union. Arbitrator Martin