Labor Pains

    

 The NFL’s labor related work stoppage is quickly approaching. The collective bargaining agreement between the NFL’s 32 teams (owners) and the NFL Players Association expires on March 3, 2010. NFL owners will probably lock out the players. A lock out is when an employer (owners) won’t let the employees (players) go to work. The purpose of a lock out is to pinch off the employee’s cash flow and benefits flow. The reason it’s a lockout and not a strike? The owners are dissatisfied with current agreement (60% of gross revenue) and want it more league (owner) friendly.

     How do you split a $9billion dollar pie? That is essentially the issue. Sure, there are some smaller issues; 18 game season, rookie wage scale, drug testing, pensions, concussions, retirement programs-all of it is secondary to the split.

     Owners say they need a bigger piece of that pie to grow the business; fund new stadiums, grow the game overseas and explore new business ventures. The owners say the down economy and all has shrunk their bottom lines. The NFL Players Association says show us your books, but the owners hate that NFLPA will see their books w/ all monies and bottom lines.

     What now? Worse case-drawn out lock out causing a shortened season-essentially fucking up mine and your fall/winter. Best case-mediation defuses the emotional counter-parts and they find a middle ground with a normal season start.

     There are a lot of dynamics at play here. Let’s start with the situations each point man is facing. NFLPA kingpin Demaurice Smith is trying to defend a deal the players saw them realize unprecedented gains. Will he bend to get a deal done? Is his constituency strong enough to stand behind him?

     NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is in a similar spot. He’s representing 31 men accustomed to winning at the bargaining table. The loss they suffered in 2006 has them pissed. If they don’t bend, can he bring them around?

     I suspect some very heavy handed maneuvering to be done. The owners will say the players haven’t bargained in good faith and try to impose a best-last offer and make the payers work under it. The players may then opt to strike. Or the players can de-certify their union and then the National Labor Relations Board could get involved. That would be bad for the owners because then their antitrust exemption would fall under scrutiny.

My guess? It will come to heavy pushing and ugly shoving and the players will break. With more than 700 free agent players and 200 rookies not guaranteed paychecks the need to get paid will win out. Their will be no winners or losers only people who’ve lost less.