Decertification

[OBXPantha]

I didn't want to do this...but I'm gonna break out the law books on ya now....

Cost of Labor Contracts Section clearly states under item

2. Increased financial disclosure. The employer will have to make a claim of inability to pay or financial hardship. although the company's financial information normally need not be disclosed in collective bargaining, when the employer puts profitability or financial condition in contention, the financial data MUST BE provided to substantiate the position.

Wow. Now I'm really starting to hate unions. So anytime employees unionize, they can really demand any amount of money they want and if the employer says they can't afford it, the union can drag their butt into court and make them open their books for the world to see. That sucks.

[riddel]

Wow. Now I'm really starting to hate unions. So anytime employees unionize, they can really demand any amount of money they want and if the employer says they can't afford it, the union can drag their butt into court and make them open their books for the world to see. That sucks.

Didn't have to go to court...the owners were idiots and didn't provide the financial date during mediation...now they must show the financial hardship in court....

Game....Set....Match.

[Jangler]

the NFL offered to reduce offseason programs by 5 weeks...really? these players just don't want to work more than 16 weeks out of the year. period.

Work less get paid more. I get it.

[riddel]

Wasn't the CBA extended to midnight today? They COULD have done it again. The union decided against that option.

An extension would only be offered if the NFL provided the financial records that had been requested for the last 3 months.....the NFL wouldn't provide the records that are required under the "concessions bargaining" portion of the CBA.

[ncbobcat]

Really. Once the CBA expired, decertification was not an option until 6 months had passed.

The CBA ended at 11:59 tonight. They had to decertify before then. There was time to file, to say they had break off negotiations that early is BS and you know it. Plus, leaks were coming out as soon as noon saying the decertifcation was going down, per union reps

[riddel]

The CBA ended at 11:59 tonight. They had to decertify before then. There was time to file, to say they had break off negotiations that early is BS and you know it. Plus, leaks were coming out as soon as noon saying the decertifcation was going down, per union reps

What court do you know that stays open past 5pm?

[Jangler]

I still don't understand, what is going to happen now? what plans can be made for the NFL to exist next season?

Did you happen to DVR last season?

[Proudiddy]

Wow. Now I'm really starting to hate unions. So anytime employees unionize, they can really demand any amount of money they want and if the employer says they can't afford it, the union can drag their butt into court and make them open their books for the world to see. That sucks.

It's not that simple.

And while some unions have some shady characters in them, their overall purpose if good. Don't do like many others here and look at it in those overgeneralized terms. The NFL is a different beast because of all the money involved and how much of the pie the players (both the employees and the product) are entitled to.

Look at what's going on in Wisconsin with their anti-union laws right now. That is ridiculous man. And on a personal note, my dad worked for Kelly-Springfield tire manufacturing which was then taken over by Goodyear since he was 18 or so. Once Goodyear took over they have closed down multiple plants across the country putting people out of jobs and outsourced their production elsewhere, laying off thousands of people in the process. They have threatened to close down my dad's plant several times. There's been labor disputes, strikes, and all of the like. And Goodyear has even taken away benefits to retirees, and you ought to see how my grandfather, who also worked there, struggles to pay medical bills and such now. It's a grimy situation... But, if there wasn't a union, the everyday man has a lot less power... The NFL is just a different beast.

[Evil Hurney]

What are anti trust laws regarding the NFL? I think the Owners wouldn't have any problems agreeing with each other, its the players that are the problem.

They might try to claim its a monopoly and the only place they can practice their 'craft'. The UFL however, actually helps the NFL in this case as its an alternative place for the players to play football for pay. The only problem is the UFL is substantially poorer than the NFL which makes it into a Microsoft vs everyone else kind of monopoly.

[OBXPantha]

Didn't have to go to court...the owners were idiots and didn't provide the financial date during mediation...now they must show the financial hardship in court....

Game....Set....Match.

But lets just say next time the union wants more money from the owners and the owners say they can afford it. They can do the same thing and force them to open their books in court. Sound a lot like extortion to me.

[rmoneyg35]

They might try to claim its a monopoly and the only place they can practice their 'craft'. The UFL however, actually helps the NFL in this case as its an alternative place for the players to play football for pay. The only problem is the UFL is substantially poorer than the NFL which makes it into a Microsoft vs everyone else kind of monopoly.

Makes sense. Do the players still get paid if there is no football? If not If I was the owners I wouldn't lock them out for a good year and hold on to that 9 billion and watch all the players suffer for not coming to an agreement.

[Davis83]

never seen where the employer has to open their books to the employee.

OK, time for the National Football League to dis-ban and then reform as the "Nationwide Football League".

The "league" then establishes "franchises" that agree to follow League hiring/firing/wage/healthcare guidelines. Those franchises then "hire" players under new contract guidelines that the league (parent company" has set.

Then never ever negotiate anything with a union ever again. If player does not "show up" for work...ie holds out - then fire him for missing work and hire another player. As all of the franchises are subordinate to the parent company, the fired player cannot be hired by a new franchise unless the parent company agree's. Employees can "transfer" to new locations when employment contracts have been completed.

So you have 32 places to apply for employment - every April those 32 offices have the opportunity to tender job offerings to prospective new employees based on prior year performance standards.

As with some existing companies, profit sharing can be offered to employee's - as set by the employer - NOT dictated by the employee.

[riddel]

But lets just say next time the union wants more money from the owners and the owners say they can afford it. They can do the same thing and force them to open their books in court. Sound a lot like extortion to me.

Dude! The union doesn't want more money! The owner want more money and want to take it from the players....the owners can't take the money unless they can show a financial loss...it's really that simple...really it is.

[blackcatgrowl]

Dude! The union doesn't want more money! The owner want more money and want to take it from the players....the owners can't take the money unless they can show a financial loss...it's really that simple...really it is.

See... this is the problem with this mentality...

The money the players get... it's from the CLUBS. It's not THEIR money until they are paid.

It would be like me saying to my employer, "You layed me off, and took my money!"

No... they elimnated my job and kept THEIR money.

The players are entitled to make what the owners agree, collectively, to pay them. If there is a problem with the business model of the past Collective Bargaining Agreement, and they want to make a change, the players need to realize eventually they will get their way. If they take it to court, and they win, they'll still lose, because the fuging owners can dissolve the league and rebuild it with new players and a non-unionized workforce.

BTW... the whole "They didn't show the financials." is inaccurate. The NFL's statement on this says the Union was presented fiancial data, and refused to review it.