Gloomy forcast

This labor professor's post is pessimistic not only about the ultimate outcome of the players suit against the NFL, but also seems to see chronic perversion of progressive legislation to the detriment of labor's interests.

NFL accuses union of failing to bargain in good faith

In a move that seems more designed to curry favor with fans and the media, the National Football League (NFL) has filed refusal to bargain charges against the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). The charges are largely directed at the players threat and authorization to decertify (disband) the union, which likely would bring into play antitrust claims against the owners if they choose to lock out the players. There is an antitrust exemption for collective bargaining, but if the union goes away, so does the reason supporting the exemption. The players have decertified the union before, and that resulted in free agency and the salary cap which were created to settle earlier antitrust litigation. This is another volley in the public relations battle for fan support. While one observer claims the owners will win the PR battle, I'm not a believer. In fact I think his argument that things will get too complicated for fans to sort out works in favor of the players. If the owners lock the players out, you can expect the anti-labor noise machine to crank up full volume in support of the owners, but the simple issue for fans will be the owners created the problem.

NFL and Labor

Here's one writer's take on the NFL labor dispute as it relates to labor's status in the country.

NFL and NFLPA spar in cyberspace

The New York Times has an interesting article about the NFL and NFLPA wooing and informing the public about the looming labor dispute.

#LETUSPLAY

The cat and mouse jockeying between the NFL and the NFLPA turns to the players marking today (January 18) as #LETUSPLAY across social media. The players are trying to counter the accusation they favor a lockout, and more positively, perhaps build sentiment against owners employing a lockout strategy. The owners want new rules and a lockout is not the only way to get them. The owners could bargain to impasse and unilaterally impose the rules leaving the players the choice to either play under the new rules or strike. The latter option would seem unlikely given a #LETUSPLAY social media blitz.