Can someone explain to me about NFLPA decertifying?

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sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Mar 11, 2011 12:48 PM
Why is this significant? Wouldn't the players want to keep the union to try to resolve the situation?
Mar 11, 2011 12:48pm
karen lotz's avatar

karen lotz

TuTu Train

22,284 posts
Mar 11, 2011 12:53 PM
If they decertify, the players can sue the NFL for violating anti-trust laws I think.
Mar 11, 2011 12:53pm
N

Nate

Formerly Known As Keebler

3,949 posts
Mar 11, 2011 2:22 PM
Union decertification is very tricky. Our credit union is going through one right now. It's a hell of a process. A lot of things you can and can't say. The crazy thing is I don't understand the NFL one either.

Here, our non-management employees are represented by the UAW. (yes, UAW in a credit union) A few employees petitioned to have the union removed within a certain timeframe (needed a certain % of signatures to get the ball rolling). The petition has been filed and now it's pretty much an open forum before a vote next Friday. We, as management, can't promise things, make threats, interrogate or spy.

In our case, the employees don't want the union (or at least a majority of them). In the NFL's case, I think their union contract is up and that's about all I understand as of now.
Mar 11, 2011 2:22pm
Q

queencitybuckeye

Senior Member

7,117 posts
Mar 11, 2011 4:20 PM
If this happens, are the players' contracts with the teams valid? Woudln't this action basically guarantee that there would be football this year, as my understanding is that there can be no lockout nor strike with no union?
Mar 11, 2011 4:20pm
karen lotz's avatar

karen lotz

TuTu Train

22,284 posts
Mar 11, 2011 4:23 PM
I think if the owners try to lock out, it is effectively a boycott which is illegal. That would be the point of decertifying. They can lockout the union, but if there is no union it turns into the boycott. At least I think I read something along those lines.
Mar 11, 2011 4:23pm
karen lotz's avatar

karen lotz

TuTu Train

22,284 posts
Mar 11, 2011 4:24 PM
And I have no idea what would happen to the contracts. Those are negotiated between teams and players/agents without the union being involved, right?
Mar 11, 2011 4:24pm
like_that's avatar

like_that

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26,625 posts
Mar 11, 2011 5:03 PM
Just announced on ESPN that the NFLPA decertified. Where do they go from here?
Mar 11, 2011 5:03pm
grodt's avatar

grodt

Senior Member

1,588 posts
Mar 11, 2011 5:10 PM
Because there is no longer a union, the players can individually sue the NFL. Essentially if the NFL tries to lock out the players, which is very likely, the players can sue the NFL to stop the lockout.

Basically now instead of negotiating all the battles will be fought in the courtrooms.
Mar 11, 2011 5:10pm
IggyPride00's avatar

IggyPride00

Senior Member

6,482 posts
Mar 11, 2011 5:13 PM
like_that;708182 wrote:Just announced on ESPN that the NFLPA decertified. Where do they go from here?

To David Doty's court where he will bend the owners over a table.

The owners way overplayed their hand the past few years thinking that the TV money insurance fund they set up would let them break the union over the next year or so during a lockout.

Last week's ruling turned 2 years of strategy on its head, and it went from the owners having all the leverage in this negotiation to the players. Serves them right though, and now they will pay through the nose.
Mar 11, 2011 5:13pm
-Society-'s avatar

-Society-

Senior Member

1,348 posts
Mar 11, 2011 7:00 PM
Nate;707916 wrote:Union decertification is very tricky. Our credit union is going through one right now. It's a hell of a process. A lot of things you can and can't say. The crazy thing is I don't understand the NFL one either.

Here, our non-management employees are represented by the UAW. (yes, UAW in a credit union) A few employees petitioned to have the union removed within a certain timeframe (needed a certain % of signatures to get the ball rolling). The petition has been filed and now it's pretty much an open forum before a vote next Friday. We, as management, can't promise things, make threats, interrogate or spy.

In our case, the employees don't want the union (or at least a majority of them). In the NFL's case, I think their union contract is up and that's about all I understand as of now.

It would have been a lot easier for you to either say you don't know or not post at all. What you posted gives no insight whatsoever in this situation. No one gives a fuck about your credit union.
Mar 11, 2011 7:00pm
DeyDurkie5's avatar

DeyDurkie5

Senior Member

11,324 posts
Mar 11, 2011 7:18 PM
-Society-;708273 wrote:It would have been a lot easier for you to either say you don't know or not post at all. What you posted gives no insight whatsoever in this situation. No one gives a fuck about your credit union.

agreed actually

didn't the last time this happen, free agency was created? Will that mean something of that scale would be coming to the nfl in the near future?
Mar 11, 2011 7:18pm
IggyPride00's avatar

IggyPride00

Senior Member

6,482 posts
Mar 11, 2011 7:59 PM
Now that the CBA has expired, if I were a top prospect right now I would be filing an anti-trust lawsuit against the league that the draft (32 teams acting in concert as one entity) is technically a restraint on college players ability to secure employment. If I am a college player, I would much rather have 32 teams bidding for my services than the one that drafts me.

The draft was always been collectively bargained so that is how it has never been an issue, but with no CBA in place the draft as currently constituted is anti-competitive to college prospects. It is not unreasonable to think a judge could rule that the draft is anti-competitive in the post CBA world as the CBA is what insulated the league from ever having to deal with legal challenges of that sort.

That would bring the owners to their knees and create some urgency to get something done. I tend to think fans take the draft as seriously as they do the season. Messing with it would create a firestorm, which may not be a bad thing as it would serve that impetus that is needed to move the process along.
Mar 11, 2011 7:59pm
jordo212000's avatar

jordo212000

Senior Member

10,664 posts
Mar 11, 2011 8:33 PM
Owners/Goodell messed up. They should not have allowed this to go to court. Players can now gain access to documents because it will be evidence. Plus Doty is probably going to side with the players as well
Mar 11, 2011 8:33pm
IggyPride00's avatar

IggyPride00

Senior Member

6,482 posts
Mar 11, 2011 9:18 PM
jordo212000;708363 wrote:Owners/Goodell messed up. They should not have allowed this to go to court. Players can now gain access to documents because it will be evidence. Plus Doty is probably going to side with the players as well

The owners pinned their entire strategy on the $4 billion dollar insurance fund they set up for themselves in the TV deal that was going to pay them even in the event of a lockout. They never took negotiations seriously the past 2 years figuring that they would ultimately bleed the players dry knowing they were better equipped to handle a work stoppage.

The Doty ruling let them flat footed and they don't seem to have a plan now.
Mar 11, 2011 9:18pm
OQB's avatar

OQB

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6,679 posts
Mar 11, 2011 9:33 PM
Greed, greed, and more greed!
Mar 11, 2011 9:33pm
imex99's avatar

imex99

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4,927 posts
Mar 11, 2011 9:39 PM
ESPN NFL - Schefter: NFL plans to announce lockout; league has not had work stoppage since 1987

Sent from my Sprint HTC EVO 4G using Tapatalk
Mar 11, 2011 9:39pm
jordo212000's avatar

jordo212000

Senior Member

10,664 posts
Mar 11, 2011 9:57 PM
IggyPride00;708422 wrote: The Doty ruling let them flat footed and they don't seem to have a plan now.

Their "plan" now consists of Goodell and other NFL office guys running a smear campaign against the union. Essentially the crux of the argument is this: owners want a bigger cut of $$, players balk and demand to see books. Owners refuse.

Now all of the sudden the players are the bad guys and never "negotiated in good faith." The owners/Goodell agreeing to extensions was because it is in their best interest to negotiate out of the courts. They are going to have an uphill battle in the court of public opinion IMO. Unlikable guys like Jerry Richardson and Roger Goodell are going to be battling Peyton Manning and Drew Bress in court
Mar 11, 2011 9:57pm
Enforcer's avatar

Enforcer

Senior Member

2,140 posts
Mar 11, 2011 10:08 PM
Hopefully We will see Judge Judy preceed over the Hearings, This Shit will end Quickly! LOL
Mar 11, 2011 10:08pm
ytownfootball's avatar

ytownfootball

Bold faced liar...

6,978 posts
Mar 12, 2011 2:50 AM
I wonder if this has any effect on whether players still need be 3 years removed from high school in order to be drafted. Probably a dumb question and the answer is likely no, but I don't have any idea.
Mar 12, 2011 2:50am
OQB's avatar

OQB

Senior Member

6,679 posts
Mar 12, 2011 3:00 AM
^Interesting point, but I think football is so much different than any other professional sports......they don't have a developmental league where that could happen. 18 year old kids should not be on the same field as 25-35 year old men....It's almost like saying 3rd, 4th and 5th graders playing high school varsity football, they just aren't ready to make that jump imo.
Mar 12, 2011 3:00am
S

sportswizuhrd

Senior Member

3,215 posts
Mar 12, 2011 3:45 AM
How does this effect the certified agents? I read on twitter from one of ESPN's college football analyst's that the agents are free to talk to the college kids now. Not sure I fully understand how that would be acceptable.
Mar 12, 2011 3:45am
like_that's avatar

like_that

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Mar 12, 2011 2:03 PM
-Society-;708273 wrote:It would have been a lot easier for you to either say you don't know or not post at all. What you posted gives no insight whatsoever in this situation. No one gives a fuck about your credit union.

+1
Mar 12, 2011 2:03pm
thedynasty1998's avatar

thedynasty1998

Senior Member

6,844 posts
Mar 15, 2011 9:43 AM
ytownfootball;708835 wrote:I wonder if this has any effect on whether players still need be 3 years removed from high school in order to be drafted. Probably a dumb question and the answer is likely no, but I don't have any idea.

Very interesting question. For whatever reason, everyone seems to be okay with the current system, however I wonder if there is someone who brings this up.
Mar 15, 2011 9:43am
T

thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
Mar 15, 2011 5:26 PM
I bet it is a league rule. It never seems to get much talk so I doubt the players are pushing for it to change at all. Do not know if it is collectively bargained or not. Anyone remember if the NBA rule was collectively bargained or if the NBA just imposed it? I never follow their CBA's.

I can see the owners till wanting it to stay the same. 1...to get the players ready for the NFL. 2. Weed out pretenders. 3. in college football they become stars and fans follow them. Their name recognition builds up and brings more attention to the teams taht draft them. College football is their minor league system. I think the owners like it, as do I.
Mar 15, 2011 5:26pm