Arena Football Lawsuit

On June 19, 2018, the Arena Football League Players Union sued the Arena Football League One, LLC seeking to enforce an arbitration award issued to Richard Ranglin on January 17, 2018. According to Section 20.1 of the leagues Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), “disputes under the CBA arising between the Union and the League are to be resolved exclusively in accordance with the arbitration procedure outlined in the CBA.” Also, pursuant to Section 20.8 of the CBA, “the decision of an arbitrator is final and binding …

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Former NFL Players Accused Union of Conspiring to Conceal Risks of Head Injuries

NFL veterans Christian Ballard (Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle) and Gregory Westbrooks (New Orleans Saints linebacker) have filed a lawsuit against the National Football League Players Association, accusing the union of fraud, negligence, and civil conspiracy.

Targeting a retirement board which includes three union representatives, the complaint alleged that the board, since at least the 1990s, has paid disability payments to retired players with traumatic brain injury (TBI).  From reviewing such claims, the union knew about the dangers associated with traumatic brain injuries, according to the …

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NCAA Steps into the Northwestern Union Debate

The NCAA filed an amicus brief on behalf of Northwestern to reverse a decision from a regional National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that ruled the school’s football players are university employees.  The filing followed briefs submitted by Northwestern  and six Republican members of Congress in support of the university.

The debate is still ongoing since the NLRB allowed the university to appeal the regional board’s decision.  If the NLRB affirms, the case could go before federal court.  Meanwhile, the voting results of  Northwestern football players …

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To Unionize, or Not to Unionize? Northwestern Football Players Cast Historic Vote Following Controversial NLRB Ruling

On April 25, Northwestern University’s scholarship football players voted on whether to form the first union for college athletes. This came on the heels of a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruling that the university’s scholarship football players were employees, and that they (as workers) had the right to form a union and were entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.  The NLRB agreed with the players on almost every point made at last month’s hearing, including acknowledging that athletes spend well in excess of the weekly

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Northwestern Football Players Encouraged to Just Say No to Union

Last month the Chicago office of the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) issued a ruling stating that athletes at private universities are employees of their respective schools and have the right to unionize.  Now, with Northwestern’s players scheduled to vote on unionization on April 25, Pat Fitzgerald, the school’s football coach, is urging his players to vote against the measure.

The players leading the unionization effort are hoping to secure things such as better medical coverage, four-year scholarships, and even the possibility of being paid.  …

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