51.   That congressional tug-of-war is being played out even as unfair labor practices charges are being thrown at the National Labor Relations Board like so many Nolan Ryan fastballs.

52.   The absence of a ruling, therefore, would make an unfair labor practice strike next week highly risky for the umpires.

53.   That much was evident Thursday when the union representing the major-league umpires filed an unfair labor practices charge against the American and National Leagues.

54.   The agency responded to three charges of unfair labor practices by the players against the owners.

55.   The agreement does not constitute unfair labor practice and the league contends it is doing so for only informational purposes.

56.   The board found that the unfair labor practices were a cause of the strike.

57.   The companies had argued before the labor board that the strike was over purely economic issues, which are not subject to unfair labor practice rulings.

58.   The complaint filed with the Labor Department asserted that Taesa engaged in unfair labor practices.

59.   The courts, in effect, would have to decide whether the lockout was an unfair labor practice or a fair one.

60.   The courts said the owners were doing unfair labor practices.