NBA Refs Possible Strike

[3SPORT]

Put up on ESPN.com
Marc Stein: NBA referees expect to be locked out on Oct. 1 - ESPN

The lead negotiator and spokesman for NBA referees announced Thursday that the referees expect to be locked out when exhibition play starts Oct. 1 after contract negotiations with the league broke down this week.

[Camron Rust]

Note that a lockout and a strike are completely different.

The difference is in who is preventing work from being done. In a strike, the workers refuse to work. In a lockout, the employer refuses to let the workers work.

[Mark Padgett]

Cool! David Stern has my phone number.

[Texas Aggie]

Rarely do I support pro sport unions of any kind, and I'm not real sure which side I'd take here. However, in this case, these individuals are actual league employees under contract only with the league and all are based upon the same pay scale. Players are under contract to their team with no pay scale and actually breach that contract (usually) when they go on strike. Also, the discussion here is in regard to what percentage of a CUT, rather than an increase, is coming down. So the issues are a bit different than usual.

I'm a right to work/free market guy, so if the union refuses the contract and is locked out, I say if you get picked up, go work. But if the NBA folded, that wouldn't bother me a bit either!

[dahoopref]

From what I understand, there are about 40-50 D-League and 20-30 D1 college refs were asked to be the replacements. It will be $1000 to 1300 per game with travel, hotel, and meal.

I wonder how Leon Wood and Bill Kennedy feel about having replacement refs take their spots when they did the same thing?

[tomegun]

I talked to one of my friends tonight who works in the D-league. The figures above are correct.

If the lockout lasts into November this is going to cause a significant problem. There aren't enough DL officials to handle the season and even if there were some of them have good D1 schedules. Also, the DL season starts in November so someone will have to officiate those games.

I'm sure there will be many people who would love to work...until they get in over their heads.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

Rarely do I support pro sport unions of any kind, and I'm not real sure which side I'd take here. However, in this case, these individuals are actual league employees under contract only with the league and all are based upon the same pay scale. Players are under contract to their team with no pay scale and actually breach that contract (usually) when they go on strike. Also, the discussion here is in regard to what percentage of a CUT, rather than an increase, is coming down. So the issues are a bit different than usual.

I'm a right to work/free market guy, so if the union refuses the contract and is locked out, I say if you get picked up, go work. But if the NBA folded, that wouldn't bother me a bit either!

I'm with you on this (that sound you hear is my grandfather rolling over in his grave), although this is one line I would not cross.