PFT: Report: Eagles may vote against decertification

[cowboyjoe]

Report: Eagles may vote against decertification
Posted by Mike Florio on September 15, 2010 9:29 PM ET
On Thursday, NFLPA officials will meet with the Eagles as part of a team-by-team effort to obtain advance authorization to decertify the union, a move that would be used to block a lockout -- and to set the stage for a possibly antritust lawsuit against the league.

......
click link here
Per McManus, "the Eagles are more likely to vote against decertification as it stands right now. But there is open-mindedness heading in, as the Eagles are curious to hear what the NFLPA representatives have to say about the matter. The meeting could sway the decision."

In the end, it may not matter. Decertification requires only a majority vote of all players; already, the union has harvested 59 votes in favor of decertification, with none opposing it.

 

[DallasCowboysRule!]

So explain this to me. If the vote passes then the NFLPA would cease to exist and there would be no lock out next season?

 

[hornitosmonster]

So explain this to me. If the vote passes then the NFLPA would cease to exist and there would be no lock out next season?

Yes...If the owners lock the players out there can be an antitrust lawsuit.

 

[Longboysfan]

Then what is the players next step?
New Union - same old leadership. hmmmm.....

Sounds like the US Congress.........

 

[peplaw06]

This does not sound good. I've never heard of these plans being thrown about in other sports when strikes and lockouts have been threatened. I honestly can't believe they're that far apart.

 

[cowboyjoe]

i dont know zoners, maybe we need to ask someone like adam or hos,

 

[Jarv]

Great, politics in football

 

[Dough Boy]

i dont know zoners, maybe we need to ask someone like adam or hos,

The NFLPA is asking all 32 teams to decertify or abolish the union. Its more of a gimick move. What they are hoping to accomplish, is if the NFL has a work stoppage due to a lock out in 2011; the key would be this. The owners have the power to lock out a union but not an organization, which the NFLPA would become through this process of decertifying itself.

Smith is playing a dangerous game. He is sending a message to Goddel that he is willing to play hard ball. I'm not sure how this will be received. Invariably, this will turn into the players vs the owners as the players are the ones to vote to decertify and the owners (The NFL) are the ones that will issue the lockout visa via Goddel.

Its not a big issue now, but Demariaus Smith is turning up the heat and looking for a legal loop hole. I'm not sure how real the anti-trust will be if they move forward in this direction.

 

[Dough Boy]

Great, politics in football

Yup. This is certainly moving in a political direction. Here is the definition of decertifying for those that are interested:

Employees who no longer want a union to represent them — whether it's because the union is undemocratic, corrupt, violent, or just plain inept — are entitled to seek an election to determine if a majority of their coworkers wants to drop the union. Such elections, conducted by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), are known as "decertification elections." They are not rare -- several hundred take place in a typical year.

 

[Dough Boy]

The NFLPA is asking all 32 teams to decertify or abolish the union. Its more of a gimick move. What they are hoping to accomplish, is if the NFL has a work stoppage due to a lock out in 2011; the key would be this. The owners have the power to lock out a union but not an organization, which the NFLPA would become through this process of decertifying itself.

Smith is playing a dangerous game. He is sending a message to Goddel that he is willing to play hard ball. I'm not sure how this will be received. Invariably, this will turn into the players vs the owners as the players are the ones to vote to decertify and the owners (The NFL) are the ones that will issue the lockout visa via Goddel.

Its not a big issue now, but Demariaus Smith is turning up the heat and looking for a legal loop hole. I'm not sure how real the anti-trust will be if they move forward in this direction.

(FYI, this is not the first time the Union as threaten to decertify itself)

 

[casmith07]

So explain this to me. If the vote passes then the NFLPA would cease to exist and there would be no lock out next season?

No, it would still "exist", but it would be decertified. They would no longer be the principal party in CBA or other negotiations. Players would either have to become private employees of the NFL (or their team as an agent of the NFL) as a business or choose to work elsewhere.

Basically, all negotiations for contracts and other business-related manners would solely be handled between the owners and the NFL front office - the players would have to trust in their owners for proper representation.

What they don't realize is that they actually could all stand to make a lot more money this way if the owners really have a vested interest in their teams and their players (Cowboys). It might also mean the elimination of salary caps and free agency in practice, because we could do things like sign Miles Austin to a 15-year, $250M contract.

 

[Kangaroo]

It means a lot of lawsuits and counter lawsuits and everything else it will be drug out for years in the courts

 

[Dallas]

As a union member, I understand fully well why the NFL is doing this. Work stoppage isn't any good for anyone concerned.

Im actually glad they are at least having this option if there is a lock out.


People think unions are all good and benefit everyone. What a crock. I have been a union member for 17 years and I absolutely HATE our local 451.

Unions are good in the beginning but once they are in, you will NEVER get rid of them unless all members are fed up w/ how the representatives are handling the negotiations and do something like this.

It's great they are getting this vote in before the lockout comes, and believe me there is going to be a lock out. The owners are fed up w/ the union.

I think the NFL could setup a non-partisan oversight commitee to keep a reign on things agreed by them and the players and do w/o a union and have the revenue share adjusted every couple of years. Give the players what is fair but dont let the union break the NFL w/ all its threats and work stoppages and lockouts. That is stupid, and so are unions.



The fans suffer the most, sadly.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

As a union member, I understand fully well why the NFL is doing this. Work stoppage isn't any good for anyone concerned.

Im actually glad they are at least having this option if there is a lock out.


People think unions are all good and benefit everyone. What a crock. I have been a union member for 17 years and I absolutely HATE our local 451.

Unions are good in the beginning but once they are in, you will NEVER get rid of them unless all members are fed up w/ how the representatives are handling the negotiations and do something like this.

It's great they are getting this vote in before the lockout comes, and believe me there is going to be a lock out. The owners are fed up w/ the union.

I think the NFL could setup a non-partisan oversight commitee to keep a reign on things agreed by them and the players and do w/o a union and have the revenue share adjusted every couple of years. Give the players what is fair but dont let the union break the NFL w/ all its threats and work stoppages and lockouts. That is stupid, and so are unions.



The fans suffer the most, sadly.

Skadoosh!

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Then what is the players next step?
New Union - same old leadership. hmmmm.....

Sounds like the US Congress.........

It's actually 'new leadership' since DeMaurice Smith has just been the NFLPA leader.

The problem at this moment isn't the players...it's the owners, their unwillingness to comprimise and Roger Goodell being worthless.




YR

 

[casmith07]

No, it would still "exist", but it would be decertified. They would no longer be the principal party in CBA or other negotiations. Players would either have to become private employees of the NFL (or their team as an agent of the NFL) as a business or choose to work elsewhere.

Basically, all negotiations for contracts and other business-related manners would solely be handled between the owners and the NFL front office - the players would have to trust in their owners for proper representation.

What they don't realize is that they actually could all stand to make a lot more money this way if the owners really have a vested interest in their teams and their players (Cowboys). It might also mean the elimination of salary caps and free agency in practice, because we could do things like sign Miles Austin to a 15-year, $250M contract.

I also left out the possibility that rather than the players signing up directly with their individual teams for representation, each player would essentially represent himself...but the model for that would be to hodge-podge, as practice squad players would technically have a voice in the matter and would be given an equal opportunity and vote along with a player like a Demarcus Ware.

I think the best option is for the players to have their "union" be their organization, per se. It would greatly benefit organizations like the Cowboys, where you have owners like Jerry Jones that desire to take care of players that perform at all costs.

It's a great way to change the landscape of professional sports in America...interesting. I'd like to see the way it plays out.

 

[Dough Boy]

It's actually 'new leadership' since DeMaurice Smith has just been the NFLPA leader.

The problem at this moment isn't the players...it's the owners, their unwillingness to comprimise and Roger Goodell being worthless.




YR

Bro, the owners are being asked to spend more & more money on these new stadiums. Your reply is a tad bit short sighted. Owners pony up a lot of dough. Jamarcus Russell is now a multiple-millionaire & risked very little capital to become one. I don't know about you, but some balance is needed.

 

[jterrell]

Bro, the owners are being asked to spend more & more money on these new stadiums. Your reply is a tad bit short sighted. Owners pony up a lot of dough. Jamarcus Russell is now a multiple-millionaire & risked very little capital to become one. I don't know about you, but some balance is needed.

Please just don't post anymore on this topic until you do some actual research.

The NFL has a very low average wage scale and a locked in HARD salary cap. The NFLPA is willing to have a rookie wage scale so you don't see oddities like Russell but that is Oakland's fault for drafting him that high. They scouted him, met with him and decided he was the best overall draftee.

The NFL's wage scale is not out of wack at all... except amongst highly drafted rookies. All that and he was cut so he earned only his bonus and early yearly salaries. He didn't cash in on the total contract at all.

The de-certification just means the NFL can't really lock them out. And what all fans should want is to avoid a stoppage.

The NFL is seeing minimally declining attendance but also seeing astronomical climbs in online access, games on tv each week and prices at these new stadiums. The NFL will get 18 games, continued growth of the NFL network and and a rookie wage cap. Those things are all they need to keep the sport going as it is: the undisputed market heavyweight in this country.