NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The Major League Umpires Association has struck out in its effort to save the jobs of 22 members, at least for now.

Major League Baseball and the union tonight reached an agreement in their lingering dispute that will cost those umpires their jobs but will allow for an arbitration proceeding that could permit some of them back into baseball at some point.

While they will receive full salary and benefits for the last month of the season, 13 National League and nine American League umpires are unemployed after tonight's games as a result of the ill-advised ploy by union chief Richie Phillips to strong-arm the owners and land a new collective bargaining agreement.

The 25 minor league umpires hired by the leagues after the failed resignation ploy was announced will begin their permanent assignments Thursday.

"The 22 resignations stand and the new umpires are permanent employees," Commissioner Bud Selig said. "The new umpires have all done well in their recent major league assignments and will continue to do so in the future."

As part of the deal, the Umpires Association agreed to drop its federal lawsuit and its charges against baseball before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The union also agreed to abide by the no-strike provision in the existing collective bargaining agreement, which expires December 31, and not to harass or threaten any major league umpire.

While baseball owners have a history of failed negotiations with their players, this looks like a clear victory over the umpires. Union president Jerry Crawford appeared to concede as much.

"It means 22 umps get their salaries for the results of their year," Crawford told ESPN in Philadelphia. "Baseball has decided not to use their 345 years of experience for the last month of the season. It gives us a chance to fight another day."

On Monday, the umpires union filed suit in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia, seeking an injunction that would prevent baseball from accepting the resignations. The umpires had hoped for a quick ruling by Judge J. Curtis Joyner, but he instead pushed for negotiations that took place over the last two days.

A series of grievances were filed last month with the NLRB.

The loser in today's developments appears to be Phillips, who in July urged the umpires to submit their resignations, effective Thursday. The strategy failed when many of the umpires refused to step down or rescinded their resignations.

Phillips tried to backtrack, claiming the resignations were only a "symbolic gesture." But baseball claimed the umpires were not fired and that resignations merely were accepted.

Only 42 umpires -- 33 from the NL and nine from the AL -- held to their letters of resignation. All nine resignations from AL umps were accepted.

Phillips stressed today that the employment status of the umpires has not changed pending the arbitration process, and blasted baseball for not using the experienced umps for the rest of the season.

"Baseball has the right to send people home. I think they are punishing the fans, players and integrity of the game," he told ESPN.

Phillips' future as head of the union also could be in jeopardy. Several umpires, most notably Joe Brinkman and Dave Phillips (no relation), were outspoken in their criticism of how their union boss has handled the dispute.

Caught in the middle was a cross section of umpires that includes crew chiefs Frank Pulli and Terry Tata, who have a combined 55 years of major league experience but will be heading home Thursday.

The departing umpires include highly rated ones such as Pulli and Richie Garcia and lower-rated officials such as Eric Gregg, Joe West and Ken Kaiser. Drew Coble, a highly rated AL umpire, is losing his job while his wife is dying of cancer.

Three of the departing umpires -- Tom Hallion, Bill Hohn and Terry Tata -- are working tonight's game between Milwaukee and Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium. Hallion was suspended for three games earlier this year for bumping members of the Colorado Rockies during an argument.

Two more umpires, Gary Darling and Larry Poncino, are working a series between the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres that continues tonight.

Among the issues that have divided the union and baseball's central offices are the supervision of umpires and the strike zone.

The umpires have expressed frustration over the questioning of their integrity and approach. Baseball unsuccessfully has tried to centralize the duties of umpires, who have continued to enforce arbitrary guidelines, such as the strike zone, to their own taste.

Before the season, baseball executive vice president Sandy Alderson handed down an edict ordering umpires to call higher strikes, but it has been widely ignored.