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NFL Players Renounce Union Status to Block Lockout
After nearly three weeks of negotiations with NFL team owners and the assistance of a federal mediator failed to result in a fair, new collective bargaining agreement, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) this afternoon renounced its status as a union in order to block a lockout by the owners. The NFL left the players no choice.
The players believe their best course of action now is to file individual antitrust suits against the owners if there is a lockout, which they could not have done unless they relinquished union representation in the contract talks.
You can show your support for the players, fans and stadium workers by signing a petition here.
If there were to be a lockout, it wouldn’t just impact football players and fans. Stadium employees would be jobless. Staff in sports bars, restaurants and hotels, police officers and others who work supporting the game also would be hurt. In fact, 150,000 workers would feel the impact, and $4.5 billion in revenue would disappear from 32 cities around the nation.
In a statement, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said working people stand shoulder to shoulder with the NFL players:
Unfortunately, the NFL and its 32 team owners, who have enjoyed the fruits of a $9 billion industry in a devastating economy for working families, could not reach a fair deal with the men who risk their health and safety to play professional football.
In light of this unfortunate situation, the players have decided to renounce the NFLPA’s status as their exclusive bargaining unit. Working people stand shoulder to shoulder with the players and their right to protect themselves and their families through antitrust laws that prohibit illegal and greedy corporate behavior.
Quarterbacks Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have agreed already to be the lead plaintiffs in an antitrust case, although other players may join a suit. Federal antitrust laws prohibit illegal corporate behavior.
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6 Comments
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So does this mean that the players have to get out of the Union and file for a decert with the DOL in order to file these lawsuits?
Football is a weapon of mass distraction. The underpaid service workers who have to pick up tons of garbage the boorish fans leave all over parking lots and stadiums would be better off being trained in other meaningful work, like planting trees or building solar power facilities.
Yes the players have already signed papers to decert during the last season and they are currently not a union now.
I am sure those people doing the work do not make it their full time job as I am sure it is just a couple of extra bucks in the pocket for a days work. Just like the refs, they have full time jobs and work one day a week for the football season.
At least this go around I’m impressed to see the more recognizable top players leading/joining the charge…unlike Quarterbacks’ Dan Fouts and Joe Montana, who turned their backs on our Union Brothers in the 80′s.
Be sure to explain to the negative people who bitch about the players as the reason the season is canceled that it was the OWNERS who broke a binding contract two years early. Most people don’t know because all they watch and listen to are conservative radio and Foux news.
What I don’t understand is why the players association doesn’t publish or expose the enormous profits that the owners net as a comparison to the gains the players are trying to achieve. In fact in all contract disputes the figures that detail where the money goes should be plainly revealed so that the public can see the bottom line and realize just what the struggle is all about. For instance, when Cat workers had to settle for less, despite the fact that corporate profits were up 300%, why didn’t the actual figures get published so everyone could see the unbelievable greed involved? Players having to dis their union for the ability to pursue justice is not a good thing. What kind of message does that send to the ignorant? When are they going to enforce anti-trust laws? In fact when are they ever going to have to abide by the same laws working people do? Don’t hold your breath the “rule of law” is a joke!