Top News

Players file unfair labor charge against league

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-05-26 07:58

NEW YORK - The NBA players' association, fearing the league is angling for a lockout, on Tuesday filed an unfair labor practices charge against the league with the National Labor Relations Board.

The union says the league hasn't bargained in good faith, has made financial demands without offering concessions to the players, and has bypassed the union to deal directly with players. The charge seeks "an injunction against the NBA's unlawful bargaining practices and its unlawful lockout threat".

The NBA and players are trying to reach a deal for a new collective bargaining agreement before the current contract expires on June 30.

They plan to meet early next month during the NBA finals, but their differences on financial issues make a work stoppage a possibility.

Both sides have said they think it's important to negotiate a deal without pursuing litigation.

But the union hopes that if talks do break down its move on Tuesday could give it support in a court battle.

The union has charged the league has made "harsh, inflexible, and grossly regressive 'takeaway' demands".

The union also contends the league engaged in 'take it or leave it' bargaining in a bid to delay action until the NBA locks out players in order to coerce them into accepting the NBA's terms.

The charges also claim the league has failed to provide relevant financial information requested by the union and threatened players that they will be forced to bear the cost of a lockout.

The league, which recently sent a second proposal for a new collective bargaining agreement to players, said the charge filed on Tuesday has "no merit".

"There is no merit to the charge filed today by the players association with the National Labor Relations Board, as we have complied - and will continue to comply - with all of our obligations under the federal labor laws," NBA spokesman Mike Bass said.

"It will not distract us from our efforts to negotiate in good faith a new collective bargaining agreement with the players association."

The owners want to implement a hard salary cap, saying they are facing projected losses of about $300 million this season.

They also want non-guaranteed contracts and hope to shorten the length and value of contracts.

The players' contention is that the league is not losing any money and they are opposing a hard salary cap, pay cuts and non-guaranteed contracts.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 05/26/2011 page22)