A bill to exempt minor league baseball players in Arkansas from the state’s minimum wage law is making its way to the governor’s desk, part of a nationwide push by Major League Baseball. The effort is supported by the union representing minor league players and is related to recent improvements in compensation and benefits for underpaid players. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Carlton Wing and Sen. Clint Penzo, passed both the House and Senate with little opposition.
After minor leaguers successfully joined the MLB Players Association and received salary increases and benefits, a provision was included in the collective bargaining agreement to lobby for minimum wage exemptions in state legislatures. The bill in Arkansas aims to alleviate the burden of tracking hours and activities required of baseball players.
While most players will now make more than minimum wage under the new agreement, concerns about tracking hours and potential legal disputes have led to the push for exemptions. The bill has received support from MLB and the union, but opposition has arisen in some states, such as Arizona, where concerns about worker protections and the precedent of special exemptions have been raised.
With the legislation impacting a relatively small number of minor league players in Arkansas, the broader implications of setting a precedent for carving out exemptions in state minimum wage laws are being considered. The bill reflects organized baseball’s history of seeking special legal protections and treatment, raising questions about fair compensation for players in a sport dominated by multimillion-dollar contracts.
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