Wilmington Morning News - May 13, 1980

Talks resume as strike nears

NEW YORK (AP) - With just over one week remaining before a strike deadline, talks resume today between representatives of baseball management and the players association.

Negotiations recessed over the weekend after Thursday's session in which the subject of compensation for free agent signings came up for the first time.

The owners want a system which would supply a replacement for each top free agent signed and the players are balking at that suggestion.

Also discussed Thursday for the first time was the percentage of television revenues set aside for player pension funds.

The players have set a May 22 strike deadline, saying they will walk out on the eve of the Memorial Day weekend unless a new basic agreement is reached by that time.

Management has rejected any specific strike deadline, saying there is no reason why negotiations can't continue while baseball is being played.

Little progress has been reported in the talks which began last winter and have included federal mediator Kenneth Moffett since March 31.