quentinPlayers Take Stand On Labor Talk
June 24th 2011 19:28
With six days left on the current collective bargain agreement between the players and owners of the NBA, around 50 NBA players in dark gray T-shirt that read, 'STAND', in large block letters. Many perceived this to be sending a signal to David Stern after the union stance on a $500 million giveback was dismissed by the commissioner. There were talks today among the players' bargaining committee about the a new collective bargain being settled in order to prevent a lockout. Owners are scheduled to meet Tuesday in Dallas and could vote to authorized a lockout. The union wrapped up a two day meeting of team player representatives last night. Billy Hunter, the union director, knew about the NBA players showing up to the meeting with their T-shirts last night. Hunter said, “We have to stand together, be unified and address whatever the circumstance is—and address it together.”
Today's meeting was the first between the two sides since they exchanged new economic proposals Tuesday. The union proposed a five year deal in which the players would receive $100 million dollars less per season in salaries each season. The Owners made a proposal for 10 years that players would be guaranteed $2 billion dollars in salaries each season. This is a reduction from $2.17 billion dollars the players earned in the 2010-11 season. Hunter in the two day meeting addressed the owners wanted the players to give up $180 million dollars in funds that were withheld from players' check because of the escrow system, which is a system the players will receive 57% of their basketball income. These funds would be disbursed to the players in August. Yesterday, Hunter said the owners were trying to “break the union.” This morning, he brought up the possibility that the labor talk could reach an extension into July. Hunter said because the 30th of June is the deadline of the CBA, doesn't mean the end of negotiations or a lockout is happening. He said, “The ball is in their (Owners) court. They will decide how we'll treat it.”
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