AFL-CIO Head Tries to Meddle in NFL Labor Dispute; Update: NFL Says ‘No Thanks’
- Posted on September 30, 2010 at 3:47pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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INDIANAPOLIS (The Blaze/AP) — The president of the AFL-CIO is ready to play mediator in the NFL’s labor dispute.
In a letter obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, AFL-CIO President RichardTrumka offered to sit down with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith and determine the parameters for a new collective bargaining agreement.
“I would like to invite you both to meet with me to discuss how an agreement might be reached,” the letter reads. “I believe such a meeting would be an immediate and important step toward saving football for the 2011 season and avoiding the significant job losses that will occur if owners lock out the players and cancel games.”
The current CBA does not expire until March, and Smith contends league owners are preparing to lock out the players before the start of next season.
The two sides held their most recent bargaining session earlier this week in Washington.
Neither league officials nor players association representatives responded immediately to e-mailed requests for comment from the AP regarding Trumka’s letter, which went to NFL owners, mayors of NFL cities and governors of states that have NFL teams.
It’s not the first time the AFL-CIO, a labor union federation, has jumped into the NFL’s game.
Two weeks ago, Trumka sent a letter to all 32 team owners, warning that a lockout could cost thousands of Americans their jobs and cities more than $140 million in revenue.
Trumka made some familiar requests in the second letter, too.
He asked Goodell to provide profit or loss statements and operating expenses of NFL teams in addition to other financial details that would justify a reduction in benefits to the players or the necessity for a lockout. The NFLPA has been seeking team financial statements for months.
But Trumka also asked Smith to provide details about player salaries, pensions and health care benefits, saying that it was essential that all of the information be available for a “fair and productive” meeting.
“I believe that a productive meeting and a production of the relevant financial information will be useful in helping to avoid a work stoppage that would impact thousands of jobs nationwide,” Trumka wrote in the Sept. 27 letter. “Now is the time for the NFL and the NFL Players Association to demonstrate their commitment to reaching a fair settlement.”
Smith has continued to insist the league is headed toward a lockout, in part because the television networks will continue to pay the owners next season regardless of whether the games are played.
Goodell points out that eventually owners will have to pay that money back if the games are canceled.
In Indianapolis, which is scheduled to host its first Super Bowl after the 2011 season, local organizers have said league officials are urging them to be ready for the game to be played, as scheduled, on Feb. 5, 2012.
The biggest point of contention, of course, is money.
Players currently receive 59.6 percent of designated NFL revenues, a number agreed to in 2006. The owners say that’s too much, arguing they have huge debts from building stadiums and starting up the NFL Network and other ventures, making it impossible to be profitable.
But money isn’t the only issue.
On Tuesday, the owners gave union executives their first formal proposal for a new 18-game regular season.
One day earlier, Colts President Bill Polian said the expanded season was a “fait accompli.” He clarified those remarks Wednesday by telling ESPN Radio: “I was very imprecise. I said that the 18-game season was a fait accompli and … it isn’t. It is subject to lengthy discussion in detail with the players’ association.”
All the AFL-CIO claims it wants to do is help.
“Millions of our hard-working members love professional football, and a great many of them also rely upon the game for their economic health,” Trumka wrote. “We stand ready to assist in reaching a collectively-bargained solution.”
But it’s hard to believe that Trumka could be an unbiased voice. He is a staunch union advocate who has vilified those with large amounts of money — a category that includes NFL team owners — and has painted businesses as greedy and dishonest.
For instance, Trumka recently called for “popular control over the private corporations,” said that all businesses “want to do is scrape every ounce of flesh from our hides — for their profit,” and boasted about driving health care legislation “down [Republicans'] throats.”
Politico’s Ben Smith notes that the NFL Players Assocation is an AFL-CIO affiliate, which could compromise any claims of neutrality and ultimately doom Trumka’s plan.
In response to Trumka’s first letter, the NFL responded by asking him to encourage the NFLPA to commit to serious negotiations:
“We share the interest of the AFL-CIO in achieving a negotiated settlement that is fair to fans, clubs, and players, who have received more than $20 billion in salaries and benefits under the current CBA, and who have experienced steady growth in compensation despite the worst economic downturn in our lifetimes,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.
“We pledge to the AFL-CIO the firm commitment of the NFL clubs to reach a fair settlement that is good for everyone, especially fans. Nobody knows better than the AFL-CIO that it takes two parties to reach a labor agreement, and we call on the AFL-CIO to encourage the NFLPA to make the same commitment to collective bargaining that NFL owners have made.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report. (Editor’s note: this distinction was not made in the original posting of this story.)
Update:
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The NFL has a problem with the head of the AFL-CIO‘s offer to mediate the league’s labor talks.
In a letter obtained Thursday by the Associated Press, AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka offered to sit down with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith to work on the parameters for a new collective bargaining agreement.
Smith is a member of the executive council of the AFL-CIO, a labor union federation.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello wrote in an e-mail to the AP: “No one would suggest that the owner of an NFL club or a member of its board could serve as an effective, neutral mediator. The same is true of the leader of the AFL-CIO.”
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Comments (50)
YouShallNotPass
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 5:25pmWhat’s the point in this moron getting involved in another union management issue? Is he so nakedly obsessed with power and his own voice that he’d do this?
Report Post »Max jones
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 5:02pmha ha ha ha ohhhahah………not that I don’t like to watch a game now and again, but where in the list of problems that our country faces does this rank? OHHH ha ha ha haahhohhahhhaha. stop it stop it you are killing me….
Report Post »drbage
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:56pmMr. Trumka, did you not see the memo that the NFL players are in the process of taking a vote to decertify their union so that they can sue the owners if/when they get locked out? I really don’t think that the American people will have a lot of sympathy for the players or the owners. How many citizens in NFL cities are saddled with the debt of the new stadium that they just had to have or the team would leave? In general, all the sports orgs should consider themselves lucky that the O is also the Athlete-in-Chief or they would be the target of denigration as evil capitalists, but, of course, we have already seen the race card played with Mr. James and Mr. Haynesworth. They should all remember that just like politicians, they can be replaced.
Report Post »saneromeo
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:56pmCan anyone explain to me why in the world the union is involved in a child’s game? That makes as much sense as collective bargaining rights for prostitutes (not a joke look at CA)… No one is making these people play a GAME for multiple millions of dollars a year… I say let them strike like Holywood did, all it does is clean out the elitist blood and let people looking for oppurtunity in…
Report Post »Brae
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:55pmTrumpka as mediator brings to mind the fox dressed as grandma in little red riding hood. Same intentions.
Report Post »JohnnyJT
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:53pmGoodell and NFLPA needs to tell Trumka to get lost.
Report Post »RobR
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:53pmWho the hell does that Trumka character think he is……….don Barack Obamalioni ?
Report Post »Silat
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:51pmI bet that fat bastard lives in a large house with vacation homes etc. He has a Mercedes and BMW and a half track to carry his fat ass around.
Report Post »The trouble with liberals is they want to be the only rich fat cats off the back of the workers. The Unions are the plantations of old. Yessa Mr. Frumpka!
Silat
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:48pmDon’t the unions run gambling, prostitution, extortion and oh yea, Obumba?
Report Post »drbage
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:57pmHmm, maybe that is why Trumka wants to get involved, his cut of the sportsbook business would be harmed.
Report Post »Furious Styles
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:47pmA lock out would be millionaires arguing with billionaires.
American does not wanna hear it or see it.
As popular as the NFL is it will take a MAJOR hit if there is a work stoppage.
These are not typical times.
This is the same union that supported & defended Leonard Little after he killed a mother on her way home from work while he was drunk driving. The same union who got him off and kept him in the league then fought (and won) after Little was unconscionably arrested AGAIN for another DWI a year after killing this woman. It is a disgrace.
Report Post »CoFX
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:43pmThis is the same guy who called for public ownership of private companies, right? Time to fight for equal salaries for all NFL Players I guess, and put his union in charge of all employees at every stadium in the country, as well as vendors for all NFL goods and concessions. You think your $8 beer is expensive now? Wait till you are footing the bill for Union dues, pensions, and healthcare with every NFL branded purchase!
Report Post »Mullaniac
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:36pmHey Roger, Tell this communist to stick it in his Trumpka
Report Post »Awakenow
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:34pmWatching the greedy trip over themselves to get at that “pie” would be funny if it wasn’t so pathetic and such a drain on hard working americans.
Report Post »Sledgehammer
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:28pmI always wanted to try foot of ball, I‘m 49 5’11 around 205. Bad knees, if I tried I think I can hobble a mile or so, have the corpsman on standby! Where do I sign up? Why do we call it foot of ball?
Report Post »American Dad
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:27pmWe need a big NFL lineman to kick Trumka’s pansy progressive ass.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:37pmROFLMAO .. now that I would “pay to view” !
Report Post »wingedwolf
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:24pmOH, PLEASE, let them negotiate with the players on the field! It would go something like the old song….
Report Post »When the players tried to take the field
the union thugs refused to yield
a mighty fracas did ensue
shouts were heard, epithets flew
and after settled down the dung,
from both teams goalposts, Trumka hung!
Silat
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:08pmThe labor leader needs to go ahead and drop those twins. He looks like he is in pain. Maybe a C section? Man, what a ****** belly!
Report Post »Silat
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:07pmTell that fat bastard to pound sand.
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:17pmmy thoughts exactly.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:37pmOtherwise they are going to lose a lot in the long run …. Well SAID!
Report Post »ClockKing
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:05pmThis the future they want: Rand’s We the Living, where you HAVE to be in a union to have a job. ANY job. This is about people like Trumka having power. And since when do people making six figures and higher in a business that is based on pure merit, need a union?
Report Post »Venom
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:05pmIf the players strike, then just do like the movie raplacements. Just hire players that wouldnt make it otherwise. Ill join :)
Report Post »Bluenose177
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:04pmyeah, the only reason Trumka wants involved is for those poor players that earn $3m-$10m a season and how unfairly they’re being treated….
yeah, Trumka wants involved for one reason………………TRUMKA and whatever he can get out of this for himself
Report Post »Areyoukiddingme
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:04pmPersonally i have stopped watching professional sports due to the fact of the salaries these people earn for playing a child’s backyard GAME. Don’t get me wrong i love the sport just not the over priced system.
Price for a babysitter for 3 kids for 6 hours – $30
Price for 2 tickets to pro football game – $125
Price for parking- $10
Price for a drink and a snack- $25
$200 for a game is about normal. Then flip on the T.V. and watch the show “MTV Cribs” and see football players with full basketball courts in there home, 9 cars, 15 T.V.’s, etc. Just seems silly to see the statement of working with firms that have earned $20billion salaries and benefits.
The company i work for put a “pay raise freeze” on everyone a year ago. Just my 2 cents.
Report Post »EAGLEMOM
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 10:03pmI have been in contract negotiations where we wielded the credible threat of “lockout” and was able to negotiate significant and necessary changes to the contract. I say lock them out and get a contract that is reasonable so that some of us “little folk” can afford to attend a game.
Report Post »pajamash
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:01pmTypical of this group…”Only WE can do this right!”
Report Post »Sandy
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:00pmIf the NFL allows this, I will NEVER watch or support an NFL game in the future. I love football, but I will give it up if they allow this corrupt organization to meddle. I went to the NFL website to write them to let them know my stance. Please do the same…….
Report Post »Buck Bagaw
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 4:32pmHe’s only trying to expand his power base.
Report Post »The_Truth
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 6:06pmAs have I, football is too much of an AMERICAN tradition to allow the ilk and slime of Trumka and his associates be a part of internally. If there is something Trumka can get involved with it is Weight Watchers and the sweet Department of Transportation approved helmet….hairdo, he is sporting.
Call me crazy but doesn’t Trumka and Ron Jeremy appear separated at birth? Just my opinion.
Report Post »Freelancer
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 3:59pmWell now Trumka has to protect the union’s bottom line. If the players strike or get locked out, then a lot of his union members will get union payments and not have to pay in. I’m sure that Trumka is only worried about the season being pulled off because he just loves football…..
Report Post »FreedomOfSpeech
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 7:06pmAFL-CIO is just looking to weasel their way into a piece of the big salaries in the NFL. I’d bar anyone remotely connected with the AFL-CIO from entering any stadiums. The involvement of this union in the NFL would be the beginning of the end for the league.
By the way, don’t let the Obama administration get away with burning books.
Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT0qgjxJyRA
These guys are trying to silence truth through the media and now they are actually burning books. It’s disgusting.
Down2TheC
Posted on October 1, 2010 at 1:34amHe needs those dues rolling in so he can promote his socialist candidates. That and he’s got a little Napoleon thing going on.
Report Post »pscully17
Posted on October 1, 2010 at 9:10amThe Irony to Trumkas TAKING OVER THE WORLD menatlity is, after all the businesses are put OUT OF BUSINESS, because they can t make a profit and benefits/salaries will be dictated by the Governement unions, the Prices of Conusmer goods will skyrocket, 50 percent of the country will be unemployed, and our standard of living will be a smidge above that of Kenyas Dirt flors and Hut dwelling!! Its STUPIDITY!!! The tragedy of this is, HISTORY Clearly shows the devastation socialism and Communism have created on Societies!! George bernard shaw stated their ideology—”if you arent of any use to yourself, you Certainly are of no use to society, therefore you must be eliminated, humanely of course (euthanised)!!” Not to mention the fact that previous Communist regimes were Forced to eliminate vast portions of its population because they couldnt afford to feed them all, let alone provide quality healthcare or encourage life longevity if you cant work.
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