Major League Baseball (MLB) and its umpires have come to a preliminary agreement on a five-year collective bargaining contract, sealing what has now become a 25-year period of labor harmony in a previously contentious relationship.
The Major League Umpires Association made the announcement on Monday, indicating that this marks the fifth consecutive five-year contract to be finalized without any labor unrest.
The agreement still requires approval from both parties, with voting scheduled for the upcoming month.

While specific details regarding the agreement have not been made public due to the pending ratification, the league has been anticipating finalizing this contract before revealing plans for its spring training trials involving the automatic ball-strike system, often referred to as “robot umpires.”
In a statement, the union expressed satisfaction with the process, stating, “It’s a fair contract, and the office of the commissioner treated us with respect throughout the negotiations.” They also acknowledged their role in the sport and emphasized their commitment to fostering a cooperative relationship, underscoring their hope for ongoing positive developments in baseball moving forward.

Previous agreements were reached before the 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 seasons following a significant incident in 1999, where a mass resignation resulted in the termination of 22 umpires, 11 of whom were reinstated by 2005.
Historically, umpires have also participated in work stoppages across various years, specifically in 1970, 1978, 1979, 1984, 1990, 1991, and 1995.
The ongoing partnership between MLB and its umpires appears to be progressing, signaling a positive trajectory for the relationship moving ahead.