The Other Labor Showdowns
While the nation is fixated on the battle of Wisconsin, there is another labor showdown taking place which has long term implications for their respective organizations. The NFL and NBA currently facing potent lockouts of its players as its own collective bargaining agreements have expired . Both leagues like all other professional sports have experienced skyrocketing salaries over the past 15 years. The slumping economy, coupled with heavy debt from newly constructed sports venues has left the owners in a conundrum. They must convince the NFLPA to accept a haircut on the 65% of revenues it currently receives under the expiring collective bargaining agreement. Thus far a pay cut has been about as well received as playing without helmets. The NBA owners with 23 of its 30 teams losing money wants a larger cut of the 4 billion dollars in league revenue which is currently split in favor of the players. All the major sports teams-the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major league baseball, have all suffer