Players¡¯ association holds workshop to reinforce unity

The opposition of pro baseball teams to players' efforts to form a sort of labor union has escalated into a tense standoff.

The Korea Pro Baseball Organization (KBO) officially expressed Tuesday its intention to suspend its ``baseball activities.¡¯¡¯

Meanwhile, members of the Korean Pro Baseball Players Association (KPBPA) held their first workshop in a bid to further consolidate their unity.

The presidents of the eight teams warned after a meeting at the KBO building that they would not hesitate to take drastic steps, including suspending the league, if the association¡¯s current leadership continue its activities.

In an emergency meeting, the club heads who are members of the board of the KBO demanded the dissolution of the current KPBPA leadership, which includes people they described as outsiders.

They owners said, ``We once more urge the players to organize a pure association with players alone. If they accept our demand, we will cancel our decision to make the six players' representatives free agents and take measures to help prevent disadvantages to them.¡¯¡¯

Song Jin-Woo, chairman of the KPBPA, said that the baseball clubs are not owned by the owners or the players, so it would be difficult for the owners to call off next season.

He said the KPBPA intends to solve the problems through dialogue with the teams and that if the association is registered as a corporate body, the current leadership may resign.

Kim Sang-Soo zangpabo@donga.com