Friday, November 4th, 2011 at 9:00 am  |  123 responses

50 NBA Players Pushing to Decertify Union Again


by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

For the players, getting rid of their union is not a new idea. It’s just an option that hasn’t moved ahead very much since it was introduced.

But all of that may soon change.

With NBA labor talks set to resume tomorrow in New York, according to multiple published reports, some 50 hard-line and extremely frustrated NBA players — guys like Paul Pierce, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, Ray Allen etc. — are seriously looking into decertifying the union if the framework of a deal that’s considered fair can’t be reached this weekend.

The NY Times reports:

About 50 players, including some All-Stars, are planning a drive to dissolve their union if talks again falter, or if the talks produce a labor deal that they deem unpalatable, according to a person who has spoken with the group. The threat could throw a wrench into negotiations as league and union officials attempt to broker a deal, knowing that any compromise might trigger a legal battle that could last for months. “It’s a potential threat to all,” said Gabe Feldman, the director of the sports law program at Tulane University. “It could signal the breakdown of collective bargaining talks.”

Dissolving the union, also known as decertification, would allow the players to sue the N.B.A. under federal antitrust law, and could force the owners to end the lockout. But there are many potential obstacles, both legal and otherwise, and the decertification process could take two months. By that time, the entire 2011-12 season might be lost. The most immediate outcome of a decertification drive would be chaos, the mere threat of which could hasten a deal. Feldman said it could be “just another ploy to gain leverage” for the players and a “major weapon in collective bargaining.” But it also could make it tougher to reach a deal. The 50-player faction is essentially demanding that the union make no more concessions. That means holding firm for a 52.5 percent share of league revenue — as the union has done so far — and rejecting any new restrictions on contracts and free agency.

Decertification would signal the end of Billy Hunter’s run, and for that to take place, 30 players need to sign a petition, leading to an election, after which a majority win would trigger the dissolving of the union.

There’s no telling at the moment if this renewed push for union decertification will lead to action from either side of the labor fight, but due to the uncertainty it causes, the mere threat will undoubtedly place additional pressure on everyone to get a deal done soon.

That’s not such a bad thing.

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  • Heals

    2 pieces, 2 writers, 2 walk-offs

    Whitlock – “The NBA lockout is all about respect — a general lack of respect for NBA players.Ownership doesn’t respect the players. Fans don’t. And neither do the media.”

    VParasuraman – “The owners aren’t holding out for parity. They are holding out because of indifference and vindictiveness. Financially, they have so much money and so many alternate sources of revenue that it doesn’t matter if their teams play or not. And since most owners’ teams aren’t going to win anyway, the motivation just isn’t there to cave. For certain owners, like Dan Gilbert, this is taken to an extreme.”

    …

  • http://myspace.com/gametimeweezy Gametimeweezy

    REALLY!!! this is EXACTLY what Jerry Stackhouse was saying the other night (or something very similar)!!! Derek Fisher, nothing against him like he isn’t the right person for the job, but even HE doesn’t negotiate his OWN contract. His AGENT does. So why is he being allowed to negotiate something even BIGGER than his contract. I’d want someone who speaks the same lingo to negotiate on behalf of ME! THAT is how the league is currently set up and its not right…..

  • http://myspace.com/gametimeweezy Gametimeweezy

    ^^^real talk !!!

  • http://myspace.com/gametimeweezy Gametimeweezy

    ^^^ real talk !!!

  • Justin

    Heals, how many companies pay for ALL of their employees to stay at five star hotels, first class flights, meal allowances, etc. etc.?

  • Justin

    Get rid of the Raptors? Aren’t they one of the more valuable franchises in the league?

  • Marco

    - Now tell me who can stop me?
    I’m in the zone.
    Competition is not in the league that I own.
    All about the dough, Imma bring it home
    when it’s over with Imma be the king of the world. -

    D.Stern feat M.Jordan

  • Heals

    Actually a lot – but they do it to maximize player performance. If 1 owner decided not pay for these things another would come along that would. How do you think teams got private jets, 1 owner thought it gave him an advantage. Justin this issue is small fries man and you know it…

  • BostonBaller

    This is still only sports folks…I couldn’t care less about who wins the battle b/c all I want is to see games and if there are NEVER games my life keeps going and there are still poor people out here actually “working” for their small pay with no option to go to the company owner and pretty much demand a cut of their business. Both sides are greedy and I don’t think a majority of players have the future players in the front of their minds even when they speak of it. The owners want every penny they can squeeze out of this also and do not have the best interest of the game in the front of their domes either. In the “real” world owners make a lot more than workers . There are pay scales and unless you own stock you don’t get paid anything but your salary. To me, 50/50 is as fair as it gets considering the options. Unless I’m missing something (I haven’t followed this hard) splitting anything right down the middle is as fair as it gets. We just finished lessons on being FAIR, SHARING & CONFLICT MANAGEMENT in stewardship class and I will follow those classes up with what is going on during these negotiations..which means I now have to bore myself with the details. Thanks NBA for making teaching that much harder. lol

  • BostonBaller

    (some) Players generate a lot of money for the owners with their talents and marketability and since it wouldn’t be “fair” if only the “money making” players got royalties (what a mess that would be) all of the players share in the $$$ pit (just like when a dominate sport in college shares the revenue with all the schools sports programs) ON THE OTHER HAND the owners provide everything else for the players to be able to showcase their talents including the best hotels, travel, arenas, salaries, etc etc. (some owners provide better than others) If said player(s) do not like the millions they are getting or the working conditions they have options to play in other countries. The players would get less $$$ and travel would be less luxurious. If that happened, the owners would have to shut down but they wouldn’t don’t go broke. Most team owners own more than just a team. If the NBA folded (never happen) we would still see great ball b/c the media would go wherever the action is. Tell me that ESPN wouldn’t broadcast games from Turkey if all the teams there had at least 5 TOP NBA players on it? That would be the end of the NBA marginal players though since I’m sure each foreign league would make sure that their countrymen had a few spots on each team. If I were a player I’d want as much money as I could get as far as salary and I’d also want a cut out of what I helped generate from the fans paying THEIR money but I know I wouldn’t try to get more than the person who is paying me millions to play a kids game. If I were an owner I know I’d want to more than break even on MY investment $$$ and I’d feel as if 50/50 was more than fair b/c I am the one shelling out the cash but i’d also know that w/out the players I’d have to stay rich off of my other ventures.

  • slamnation

    Justin, the Raptors perpetually suck, and from a player’s perspective, T-Dot is about as appealing as Milwaukee or Cleveland. This will become even more apparent when DeRozan pulls an LBJ on them.

  • BostonBaller

    At least a lot of families are saving money by not having to pay for high priced tickets and food at the games. I feel kind of bad for the average worker in the arenas but the economy is bad which means they are in the same position as millions of others. I pray they all find jobs and when the lockout ends they don’t go back…then we’ll see if both players and owners realize who really does the work and deserves more pay. In most companies not many people know the cleaning crews by name or even sight but when they go on strike everyone wants to know where “that guy or gal” is who takes out the trash, replaces toilet tissue, vacuums, cleans the windows, etc etc. This is the ONLY part of the NBA that is like the REAL WORLD and that my friends is what really sucks..not who gets what % of the cash cow. BTW the great part about this is that that show bball wives might go off the air and maybe just maybe the gold digging groupies will leave and get a job. yeah right..there are still other pro sports out there so their “jobs” are safe. lol

  • BostonBaller

    Teddy the B you made an excellent point up there about Mainstream journalism. As far as reporting on foreign affairs and war we will only get what the Govt allows and spins. Unbiased reporting is a sad joke b/c each station has an owner and what ever way the owners lean that is which way their reporting will lean. My Pastor works at a TV station in the editing department and used to be an investigative cameraman and he is about to leave b/c of the tainted reporting and coverups. as far as the sportswriters, I myself am biased. I will not read certain mags b/c of the way they are put together with too much fluff and the writing is weak. Writing, even for sports, should come from the heart and be truthful yet entertaining. Thanks SLAM from a old school head who has been dow since ISH #1

  • http://Slam.com Illwill

    Players are buggin they should have done this back in July this almost ensures the season is lost

  • Andrew Woods

    ‘too big to fail’ was a excellent movie. Reminds me why I oppose the owners

  • http://nbasobrietystrike.blogspot.com/ CoolWhip

    Labour talks are starting to remind me of the movie ’50/50′: us fans are Rogen’s character (the friend), not directly involved, but have a lot at stake emotionally; the owners and players (NBA as a whole) are Levitt’s character (cancer patient), who have the most at stake and could potentially ‘die’ if the cancer is not treated; and the role of cancer is played by basketball related income (BRI), which if not contained during chemotherapy (labour negotiations) could reach metastasis, and then all parties concerned are f***ed.
    Check it out on my site where I drink my way through the cancelled games.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Boston
    It isn’t splitting down the middle. That is what they do now under the current expired deal. The new deal means the owners make a total of $500 million more than players if you use the most recent BRI and total revenue figures.

  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre
  • http://twitter.com/djys DJ YS

    At this point, them blowing the whole popsicle stand and decertifying may be the most entertainment we get this year.

  • VanCityBBall

    i cant believe the players are actually meeting about weather or not to have meetings

  • Peter M. Arel

    I personally DO NOT CARE if a deal IS NEVER reached by both sides. City officials in EVERY U.S. CITY WHERE THE NBA PLAYS SHOULD TAKE A STRONG STAND AGAINST THE NBA IF THE 2011-12 SEASON IS LOST BY LOCKING NBA TEAMS OUT OF THEIR ARENAS AND USING THE SPACE FOR CONCERTS, PUBLIC AUCTIONS, OTHER SPORTING EVENTS(IN THE CASES OF CITIES THAT ARE “MULTISPORT” CITIES) AND ICE SHOWS.Fans SHOULD BOYCOTT THE NBA, TOO, and KEEP BOYCOTTING THE NBA until it goes belly-up or until DAVID STERN IS OUSTED AS COMMISSIONER OF BASKETBALL, whichever comes first!

  • Peter M. Arel

    The NBA MUST LOSE ITS FAN BASE AND NEVER GET IT BACK AS A HARSH LESSON TO BOTH SIDES! There are lots of things fans like myself can do if the 2011-2012 season goes down the tubes.Like play basketball(I have my own basketball, too, with my name on it), watch a movie or play on my VCR, etc., but during that time the NBA can GO BELLY-UP and I won’t care.Not entirely true-I will care about the people whose businesses went bust or the arena employees who were forced out of their jobs. I WILL care about them. BUT I hope they and others in the NBA cities and towns where these people have lived and worked for most of their lives WILL REALLY TAKE A STRONG STAND AGAINST BOTH THE NBA OWNERS, THE PLAYERS AND COMMISSIONER DAVID STERN!

  • Peter M. Arel

    The NBA PLAYERS WILL BE DOING EVERYBODY A HUGE FAVOR IF THEY DECERTIFY! BUT THEY MUST EITHER “Fish or cut bait,” as the saying goes. I am Still hoping that the people who stand to lose their jobs at the arenas where the NBA teams play-and others too-WILL TAKE A HARDLINE AGAINST THE OWNERS AND THE PLAYERS IF THE CURRENT NBA SEASON GOES DOWN THE SEWER!

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