NFL says players' union is 'surface bargaining' so it can file suit

[R8RMR]

The NFL confirmed that it filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board against the NFL Players Association on Monday.

The charge states that the players' union has failed to bargain in good faith as a result of its strategy to "disclaim interest" (or "decertify") and file antitrust litigation against the NFL following expiration of the collective bargaining agreement March 3.

The NLRB is an independent federal agency, based in Washington D.C., that enforces the nation's labor laws and referees labor-management disputes.

The league made the filing as a proactive measure to protect against possible decertification by the players' union.

The filing itself is a public document, in which the NFL claims the NFLPA has engaged in "surface bargaining" and tactics designed to avoid reaching an agreement before the CBA expires so the union can file antitrust litigation against the league.

NFLPA officials met with every team during the course of the season to vote on possible decertification in the event of a lockout or labor impasse, and the measure passed.

The NFLPA has rejected the claim against it and once again pointed out that league owners opted out of the current CBA. The union has previously said it expects the owners to lock out players.

The league's filing Monday stated that measures taken by the union, coupled with what would be widely expected to follow decertification -- an antitrust lawsuit against the NFL by an individual player or groups of players -- aren't aimed at reaching a new agreement.

The filing referred to this strategy as "a ploy and an unlawful subversion of the collective bargaining process, there being no evidence whatsoever of any (let alone widespread) disaffection with the union by its members. It is both the reason for and proof of the NFLPA's failure to approach these negotiations with a sincere desire to reach a new agreement at the bargaining table as opposed to the courthouse.


NFL.com news: NFL says players' union is 'surface bargaining' so it can file suit

[R8RMR]

As the 3rd of March approaches we can expect the posturing and the apportioning of blame to get worse. But with the sort of moves that we are getting now, it doesn't look good for an agreement to be reached any time soon. Though the Combine and the Draft will go ahead, that might be all that the players get to do. A lock out looks more and more likely.

[Welsh Raider]

I think its looking more and more likely that the draft will go ahead without a deal being in place.

This will make this years draft arguably the most important ever.

Teams will have a shed laod of holes, as they will be unsure of which free agents will be coming back, teams wont be able to swap players for picks, or even future picks(unsure of this one).

Scary but interesting times for the league.

[R8RMR]

You are right about that. makes the draft a more interesting proposition and the undrafted FA's will become more important under those circumstances.