Ohio State law professor available to discuss possible strike

COLUMBUS – Major League Baseball could experience its ninth work stoppage since 1972 if a strike takes place on Aug. 30 – the date set by the Players Association last week.

Alan C. Michaels, associate dean for faculty and professor of law at The Ohio State University, spent three years as private counsel to the Major League Baseball Players Association. He has written and spoken on issues surrounding labor disputes in baseball. The Harvard and Columbia graduate is available to discuss his perspective on the issue, the status of negotiations and the possibility of yet another work-stoppage in America’s Favorite Pastime.

The debate rages around a luxury tax. Owners say they want the tax to restrain spending and to improve competitive balance. Players say that a steep tax along with revenue sharing would act as a salary cap, which owners deny. Players have agreed to the tax in concept, but want a lower tax rate for all teams and high-spending teams to face a higher threshold before any tax would take effect.