Silverman v. Major League Baseball Player Relations Committee (Silverman II) case brief

Silverman v. Major League Baseball Player Relations Committee (Silverman II) case brief summary
880 F.Supp. 246 (1995)

CASE SYNOPSIS

A dispute arose between the respondent owners and the players of major league baseball. While the conflict was pending before the petitioner National Labor Relations Board the owners tried to change certain aspects of the prior agreement. The petitioner requested an injunction against such activity.

CASE FACTS
Cross-charges of unfair labor practices were filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) between the owners and players of major league baseball. The owners informed the players that they would unilaterally eliminate salary arbitration for certain reserve players, competitive bargaining for certain free agents and the anti-collusion provision of the expired collective bargaining agreement. The NLRB sought a preliminary injunction.

DISCUSSION

• The court determined that 
• (1) there was reasonable cause for the NLRB to believe that the owners had violated § 8(a)(1) and (5) of the National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C.S. § 158(a)(1) and (5), because the provisions sought to be unilaterally changed were mandatory subjects of bargaining and 
• (2) injunctive relief was warranted because the public interest in the process of collective bargaining would be irreparably harmed if the injunction were denied as would be certain personal rights of the players.

CONCLUSION

The court granted the NLRB's request for injunctive relief in an action for unfair labor practices between owners and players of major league baseball.

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