The Dates

Key events in baseball’s labor negotiations:

March to June--Management, led by chief operating officer Paul Beeston, and union hold two dozen secret, informal bargaining sessions.

Nov. 6--Owners vote, 28-2, to fold two teams before the 2002 season. Their labor negotiators later tell the players’ union Montreal and Minnesota are the targeted teams.

*--* 2001

*--*

Nov. 7--Union files grievance, claiming contraction vote violated labor contract. Collective bargaining agreement expires.

Nov. 16--Hennepin County District Judge Harry Seymour Crump issues injunction preventing Twins from being eliminated, ruling it would violate the team’s lease with the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, which operates the Metrodome.

*--* 2002

*--*

Jan. 9--Owners propose a 50% luxury tax on the portions of payrolls above $98 million and increasing the percentage of shared locally generated revenue from 20% to 50%.

Feb. 5--Owners postpone contraction until 2003 season, a day after Minnesota Supreme Court refuses to hear appeal of the injunction that forces the Twins to honor their Metrodome lease for 2002 season.

Feb. 26--Owners propose making amateur draft applicable to players worldwide and withholding pay of suspended players.

March 8--Beeston resigns and is replaced by Bob DuPuy, Commissioner Bud Selig’s longtime lawyer.

March 13--Union responds to Jan. 9 proposal, offering to increase revenue sharing to 22.5% under a different method and declining to offer a luxury tax.

March 26--Selig promises not to lock out players or attempt to change terms and conditions of work rules through postseason.

June 11--Owners propose a transition period for luxury tax and to cut the proposed discretionary fund for commissioner from $100 million to $85 million.

June 27--Owners withdraw proposal for “information bank” of free-agent offers.

July 8--Union executive board meets in Rosemont, Ill., but does not set strike date.

Aug. 7--Union agrees to mandatory testing for illegal steroids.

Aug. 8--Sides agree to raise minimum major league salary from $200,000 to $300,000, increase owners’ payment to benefit plan and shorten period for funding deferred compensation.

Aug. 12--Union executive board meets in Chicago but does not set a strike date.

Aug. 16--Union executive board votes, 57-0, during conference call to set a strike date of Aug. 30.