Sports unions

=Sports Unions=

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The Debate

-Pros: Since the inception of player unions, player salaries have increased dramatically. The salaries of baseball players went from a minimum of $6,000 in 1966 to an average of 2.4 million dollars in 2004. This is a result of their commitment to collective bargaining. (1)Unions can promote cooperation and compromise between players and management. For instance, the NBAPA negotiated to create the first salary cap rules in professional sports in 1983. (1)- Cons:Some argue that players make too much money and that union bosses also make too much. For example, in the case of Gene Upshaw, who makes 6.7 million dollars a year, athletes and fans alike have protested that the union takes too much money without delivering its promises. Others argue that the increased cost of higher player salaries only gets passed on to the fans. (1)

Timeline of Major Events

- 1885: The first players union is formed by John Montgomery Ward and eight baseball players. It is called the Brotherhood of Professional Base Ball Players.- 1900: Creation of the Players Protective Association for baseball players.- 1912: Creation of the Fraternity of Professional Baseball Players of America. - 1946: Creation of the American Baseball Guild.- 1965: Marvin Miller, after leaving United Steelworkers of America, strengthens the labor movement in baseball as the executive director of MLBPA.- 1968:

Future Outlook