Major League Baseball writers and other content producers have voted to join the Writers Guild of America East.<\/p>\n
The WGA said Wednesday that 127 employees of MLB Advanced Media \u2014 the content creators for the league\u2019s official website and popular app \u2014 are now represented by the New York-based guild for collective bargaining. The American Arbitration Assn. administered an election after a majority of the group signed union cards.<\/p>\n
The move marks the first time workers of a professional sports league have formed a WGA bargaining unit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Guild is excited to welcome more workers from the sports industry into the labor movement,\u201d Writers Guild of America East President Tom Fontana said in a statement. \u201cThis bargaining unit now has earned a seat at the table with Major League Baseball to negotiate a fair first union contract.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a statement, the league said it did not stand in the way of the organizing efforts.<\/p>\n
\u201cMLB worked cooperatively and in good faith to identify the appropriate bargaining unit and to respect the rights of the affected employees to decide whether to unionize,\u201d the league said. \u201cWe look forward to working with the WGAE as their new representative.\u201d<\/p>\n
Neither side disclosed what workplace matters prompted the group to organize. <\/p>\n
The unit produces content for the league\u2019s digital offerings in English, Spanish and Japanese. <\/p>\n
The effort comes as baseball executives are embroiled in tumultuous contract negotiations with its big league players. The collective bargaining agreement with the Major League Baseball Players Assn. expires Dec. 1, and team owners could lock out players after that deadline if no deal is reached. <\/p>\n