2nd team voted to decertify

[falcon057]

Colts players vote unanimously to decertify union





CBSSports.com wire reports
Sep. 17, 2010

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts have voted unanimously to decertify the NFL Players Association.

Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday, the team's player rep, said the vote was held Wednesday and that he expected to see nearly unanimous support from the other 31 teams, too.

Decertifying the union could give players the right to sue the league under antitrust laws if owners lock them out, as the union fears, when the collective bargaining agreement expires in March.

The Colts vote is primarily procedural since no immediate action is expected from the union. By voting now, the union can avoid the logistical nightmare of tracking down players for a vote and signatures during the offseason.

The NFL declined comment Friday.

[papachaz]

i'm still confused though. if they decertify the union, how do the players vote on a new contract proposal? how do they negotiate said proposal?

i wish they'd just agree on the damn thing and get it done

[falcon057]

NFL teams prepping for lockout

Updated Sep 17, 2010 7:22 PM ET
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)

Players for four NFL teams have already taken a key step in their looming fight with the league over pay — a fight that may include a lockout next year.


Carl Francis, a spokesman for the NFL Players Association, confirmed in an e-mail to The Associated Press on Friday that Indianapolis, Dallas, New Orleans and Philadelphia have all voted unanimously to decertify the union. He said union leaders were still collecting voting cards from other teams.

Decertification would strip the union of its collective bargaining rights on behalf of the players, so the move might seem counter-intuitive. But since antitrust laws exempt NFL owners from being sued by unions that are negotiating CBAs, decertification would in essence eliminate the union and allow players to sue the NFL in the event of a lockout — giving them potential leverage in their dispute with the owners.

Colts center Jeff Saturday said the Indy vote took place Wednesday and that he expects the other 31 teams to do the same thing — unanimously.

''When it's explained why you're doing it, I don't think anyone would vote against it,'' he said.

League officials declined to comment.

No immediate action is expected by the NFLPA, but voting now will help the union avoid the logistical nightmare of tracking down players for voting cards and signatures during the offseason. The collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the union expires in March.

Players have been told that if the union does not decertify before the CBA ends, the NFLPA would have to wait six months to sue the league.

NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith is expected to meet with each team over the next few weeks. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell also answered questions from Colts players during a training camp meeting last month.



It's not the first time this has happened.

The NFLPA was decertified in 1989, two years after a failed players' strike. It returned as a union in 1993, when a contract was reached with the league that provided for free agency. That landmark CBA was renewed or restructured several times since 1993, including in 2006. The owners opted out of that deal two years ago.

The players currently get 59.6 percent of designated NFL revenues, a number agreed to in the 2006 CBA. The owners say that's too much, arguing that they have huge debts for building stadiums and starting up the NFL Network and other ventures, making it impossible to be profitable.

The NFL generates nearly $8 billion in revenues annually, with about $1 billion going to operating expenses. The owners get about 40 percent of the rest, but they want about $1.3 billion more before the players get their cut, and they'd like two more regular-season games to get more money out of the networks for everyone.

Players have said they won't take anything that amounts to a pay cut. Smith has been warning players since he took office in early 2009 to put aside money in case of a work stoppage.

[wordtobigbird]

I just want my football.

[Oldfan]

This whole strike/lockout situation just makes me sick to my stomach. When Blank brought in the Smith/TD era, I predicted it would take four seasons for us to become contenders. Barring a good case of the guys playing beyond their maturity this season, it looks like next year should be the one that will begin paying the big dividends.

The timing for a labor dispute couldn't be worse as far as the development of the Falcons is concerned. Everything points to next season as the real beginning of our dynasty and now we could end up with a half-assed scab-riddled team playing meaningless games.

I really hope they get this thing worked out. I have waited to cross into the promised land since 1966 and a lockout would suck beyond sucking.

[falcon057]

It's accuaully 4 teams but I couldn't get my shoes off quick enough, OH i DIDN'T NEED TOO

[Beef]

What's funny is, NFL players are so far from being a true union anyways, its ridiculous that they even have one. Each player has their own negotiated contract & the vast majority of them have unique stipulations far from standardization. Decertifying is only going to shoot themselves in the foot & make them individuals with less bargoning power, which by the way is how it should be.

I'll be honest, I'm all for which ever side will help lower the cost of going to a game. And right now, that seems more like the owners. There's no reason why a college kid who hasn't taken a snap in the NFL should get $40 million up front guaranteed money & 5-6 year $70 million contract. This has gotten out of hand & it needs to be corrected.

I'm going to the Arizona game tomorrow, taking my wife & 2 kids, the tickets cost me $350 bucks, parking will be another $20, & food/drinks will be another $100, maybe more. That's just outrageous. I can't do that but maybe once more this season & my wife & I make good money. I can't imagine families who are below the median & are struggling bad in this crap economy.

These owners have screwed themselves, but if the players weren't so greedy, it wouldn't have come to this. Both sides are culpable & they need to fix their business for the sake of the fans or they & us will all suffer. Hopefully they can come to this realization & do the right thing. This chess game they are trying to play is only going to make things worse.

[Peyton]

(09-18-2010 05:25 AM)chazmataz Wrote:  i'm still confused though. if they decertify the union, how do the players vote on a new contract proposal? how do they negotiate said proposal?

i wish they'd just agree on the damn thing and get it done

There simply wouldn't be an agreement. Like there isn't now.

[The Falcon Jedi]

(09-18-2010 09:12 AM)Beef Wrote:  What's funny is, NFL players are so far from being a true union anyways, its ridiculous that they even have one. Each player has their own negotiated contract & the vast majority of them have unique stipulations far from standardization. Decertifying is only going to shoot themselves in the foot & make them individuals with less bargoning power, which by the way is how it should be.

I'll be honest, I'm all for which ever side will help lower the cost of going to a game. And right now, that seems more like the owners. There's no reason why a college kid who hasn't taken a snap in the NFL should get $40 million up front guaranteed money & 5-6 year $70 million contract. This has gotten out of hand & it needs to be corrected.

I'm going to the Arizona game tomorrow, taking my wife & 2 kids, the tickets cost me $350 bucks, parking will be another $20, & food/drinks will be another $100, maybe more. That's just outrageous. I can't do that but maybe once more this season & my wife & I make good money. I can't imagine families who are below the median & are struggling bad in this crap economy.

These owners have screwed themselves, but if the players weren't so greedy, it wouldn't have come to this. Both sides are culpable & they need to fix their business for the sake of the fans or they & us will all suffer. Hopefully they can come to this realization & do the right thing. This chess game they are trying to play is only going to make things worse.

+1

[Muskokas Finest]

They can vote to make Kim Kardashian their union rep, so long as they keep negotiating.