Minor League Baseball players are one step closer to finally unionizing.
After sending out authorization cards in late August, the Major League Baseball Players Association announced on Tuesday that over 50% of minor league players have voted to support unionizing.
That figure far exceeds the 30% threshold necessary for next steps.
In a letter sent to MLB, the union asked the league to voluntarily recognize that a majority of minor leaguers are seeking to unionize and formally accept MLBPA as their bargaining representative.
If MLB does not formally recognize the union by a certain date — which has not been publicly reported but was specified in the letter — the union would likely hold a vote through the National Labor Relations Board where 50% of eligible players would need to vote in favor of unionization.
“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,” MLBPA executive director Tony Clark said in a statement.
MiLB players have dealt with a large host of economic issues over the years — but the tide may finally be starting to turn in their favor.
In July, MLB agreed to a $185 million settlement with minor leagues for a class-action lawsuit alleging that the league had violated labor laws in Arizona, California, and Florida.
