NFL Players Association Rejoins AFL-CIO
When the 2011 National Football League season kicks off next month, the players on the field will again be members of the AFL-CIO. After negotiating a fair and secrure contract and reconstituting their union, the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) today rejoined the federation. The NFLPA renounced its status as a union in March so the players could take advantage of legal anti-trust action against the owners’ lockout.
“It was the steadfast unity of our players and support from millions that allowed us to reach a fair deal for the working men who risk their health and safety to play professional football,” said DeMaurice Smith, NFLPA’s executive director.
We have a renewed sense of unity that we’re excited to bring to our reaffiliation with the AFL-CIO. As we all face tough economic times, we see what’s possible when we work together.
Union Rep. Aaron Rodgers Is Super Bowl MVP
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Just a week after Natalie Portman and Melissa Leo gave shout outs to their union at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, two more high-profile union members were in the spotlight. On Super Bowl Sunday, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the Packers’ team rep. for the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), took home the Super Bowl MVP award. The same day New England Patriot alternate rep. Tom Brady was named Offensive Player of the Year for the 2010 season.
It is rare for two such high-profile players to serve as team reps., but both Rodgers and Brady are strong supporters of the union. When he was introduced as the Packers’ new team rep. last October, Rodgers made it clear that the union is important to him and his teammates. He spoke out about how the prospect of a lockout in the 2011 season would hurt the community as well as the players.
NFL Players to Join State Federations
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It happens too often. Workers become more productive, often risking serious injury on the job, and make the owners more money. But instead of sharing the wealth, the owners demand givebacks and threaten to shut down the company if the workers don’t agree.
The only difference this time is that the workers include such household names as Drew Brees, Ray Lewis, Peyton Manning and James Harrison—all stars of the National Football League. NFL team owners are threatening to lock out players next season, and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) is joining with the other workers in the stadiums and the rest of the union movement to fight management’s greed. Today, the NFLPA announced that its members will fully affiliate with all AFL-CIO state federations and the central labor councils where their NFL teams are based.
Athletes Take Field for Haiti Relief
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Members of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) are stepping up to raise money and promote awareness for the recovery effort in Haiti. You can take action now to help the Haitian survivors by clicking on the AFL-CIO Haitian Disaster Relief site here.
This week, the NFLPA is expected to announce the creation of the “ONE TEAM 4 HAITI” campaign, a partnership with the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, National Basketball Players Association, National Hockey League Players Association and Major League Baseball Players Association to focus on relief efforts in Haiti.
The “ONE TEAM 4 HAITI” campaign will promote relief efforts by airing public service announcements that feature professional athletes from all four major sports leagues.
Pro Athletes Take Field to Help Native Children
Members of the Professional Athletes came together in a benefit for Native American children at the union’s recent 14th annual “Evening With the Stars” gala in Washington, D.C. The gala featured a silent auction and a live auction of sports memorabilia and Native American art.
An estimated 1.3 million Native Americans currently live on reservations, and many suffer from poor health, poverty and inadequate education. Proceeds from the gala will benefit Native Vision, a nonprofit initiative that connects Native American youth with professional athlete mentors through a variety of health and education programs.
The union hopes the involvement of pro football players will help draw attention to the challenges facing many Native Americans.
NFL Players Selects Smith as Executive Director
Washington, D.C., attorney DeMaurice Smith was selected today as executive director of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). He succeeds the late Gene Upshaw, who died in August 2008. The NFL Player Representatives unanimously chose Smith to serve a three-year term.
Smith, 45, is a trial lawyer and litigation partner at the District of Columbia law firm Patton Boggs. A former assistant U.S. attorney, Smith previously served as counsel to then-Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder in the U.S. Department of Justice.
In a press release, Smith says:
I’m humbled by their decision. I’m honored and proud to lead a great group of men. I think we understand the challenges that face us but we also understand the strength of our unity.
