Labor & Employment Law

NFL Players Renounce Union Status To Block Lockout

By James Parks

After almost 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 dollars 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, Payton Manning and Tom Brady have already agreed to be the lead plaintiffs in an antitrust case, although other players may join a suit. Federal antitrust laws prohibit illegal corporate behavior.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on March 11, 2011 (boomark / email).