On March 15, 2020, NFL players approved the collective bargaining agreement proposed by the league`s owners (CBA) by a narrow majority of 1,019 to 959. The deal came after nearly a year of negotiations between the NFL and the players` union, also known as the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). The former CBA of the League, founded in 2011, was due to end after the 2020 season. The new CBA will now be in effect until the end of the 2030 season. The team`s owners sent their ratified proposal to the players on February 20, after which the NFLPA Executive Committee rejected the proposal by a vote of 6 to 5. [1] However, the NFLPA vote served only as a recommendation to the players` union. The proposal was then forwarded to the representatives of the NFLPA players, who were composed of a team representative, and the group accepted the proposal 17-14 with an abstention, which allowed the proposal to be sent to all players by a majority. Each NFL team will now play 17 games, as agreed in the new collective bargaining agreement. The current active agreement was ratified in 2020 and covers the 2030 season and includes changes in the league`s revenue distribution, increases in player benefits and improvements in health and safety, and an increase in the regular season to 17 games played and increased limits for active executives and training teams.
A new contract was negotiated in 1970 after the NFLPA merged with the American Football League Players Association. [4] During negotiations on the new CBA, players went on strike in July 1970. [4] The new agreement was reached after four days. [3] The agreement increased the minimum wage for players and changed the league`s medical and retirement programs. [4] It also provided for an impartial reconciliation of injury complaints, which had been previously decided by the NFL Commissioner. [5] John Mackey was elected president of the NFLPA during these negotiations[1] and the new agreement was to cover the 1970 to 1973 seasons. [4] [1] Associated Press, NFL Union Executive Committee refuses an employment contract; player representatives for the next time, Lᴏs Aɴɢᴇʟᴇs Tɪᴍᴇs (February 21, 2020), available from www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-02-21/union-committee-rejects-nfl-labor-deal-player-reps-to-vote. [2] Nᴀᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ Fᴏᴏᴛʙᴀʟʟ Lᴇᴀɢᴜᴇ (NFL) and Nᴀᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ Fᴏᴏᴛʙᴀʟʟ Lᴇᴀɢᴜᴇ Pʟᴀʏᴇʀs Assᴏᴄɪᴀᴛɪᴏɴ (NFLPA), Cᴏʟʟᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ Bᴀʀɢᴀɪɴɪɴɢ Aɢʀᴇᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ (2020) [2020) [NFL – NFLPA 2020]. [3] Sam Acho: “Although 1% of NFL players have the loudest voice, the proposed #CBA is a good deal for the other 99%. Why: Tᴡɪᴛᴛᴇʀ (March 8, 2020), twitter.com/TheSamAcho/status/1236765112196792324. [4] Kerri Anne Renzulli – Courtney Connley, Here`s what the average NFL player does in one season, CNBC (February 1, 2019), www.cnbc.com/2019/02/01/heres-what-the-average-nfl-players-makes-in-a-season.html. [5] Okung v The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), NLRB No.
21-CB-257665 (March 9, 2020). [6] Michael McCann, Unpacking Russell Octung`s NLRB Charge Against the NFLPA, and What Comes Next, Sᴘᴏʀᴛs Iʟʟᴜsᴛʀᴀᴛᴇᴅ (March 10, 2020), www.si.com/nfl/2020/03/10/russell-okung-nflpa-charges-cba-negotiations Okung, 21-CB-257665 NLRB. [8] McCann, supra note 6. [9] Okung, 21-CB-257665 NLRB. [10] Jabari Young, future NFLPA executive director in doubt of working as a player to repair the image after a 10-year contract, CNBC (March 23, 2020), www.cnbc.com/2020/03/23/nflpa-executive-directors-future-in-doubt.html. [11] Eric Reid, “My lawyers @meiselasb and @markgeragos a letter to @NFLPA this morning asking @DeSmithNFLPA for answers, why the language was changed to CBA after the vote and calls for a new vote and inquiry. Read the letter and compare CBA on which we voted against CBA published on the NFLPA website. ” Tᴡɪᴛᴛᴇʀ (March 30, 2020), twitter.com/E_Reid35/status/1244640335927664640.