Louisiana Officials Possible Strike?

[bob jenkins]

Are there enough officials to cover the games (including the effects of new officials joining, or not, the ranks) at $31? If so, then it's a fair price.

[GoodwillRef]

Some how they will twist it and say since the officials aren't working they are taking the game away from the kids.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Are there enough officials to cover the games (including the effects of new officials joining, or not, the ranks) at $31? If so, then it's a fair price.

Bob has a point. The more officials there are to cover the demand, the lower the rates will be. Scarcity increases rates.

That said, I'm glad to see officiating folk step up and negotiate harder.

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Are there enough officials Of high enough quality to satisfy the schools to cover the games (including the effects of new officials joining, or not, the ranks) at $31? If so, then it's a fair price.

Price can impact quality, and while I'm a free-marketer, sometimes in these situations negotiation is important.

If associations are seeing their ranks depleted of quality officials due to these low fees, and they are hearing from the schools about low quality, it sometimes takes drastic measures to get their attention.

I'm not a fan of striking when a contract exists - but this may work if they open the games up to anyone and find out what that's about.

[Forksref]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Are there enough officials to cover the games (including the effects of new officials joining, or not, the ranks) at $31? If so, then it's a fair price.

That's the purpose of a strike, to ensure that there are NOT enough officials to cover the games. Then, the price will go up.

[Rich]

This part of the article is good, too:

Some principals cited economic issues, which have led to lagging attendance, as one reason the pay hikes were voted down. That vote, coupled with the passage of a proposal by Glueck on behalf of Baton Rouge principals that would require basketball officials associations to provide two-person crews instead of previously mandated three-person crews for nondistrict and tournament games has complicated the issue.

“It’s tough for me, because I’ve been on both sides of this,” Alexander said. “I’ve been and official and I’ve been a principal, too.

“During the last 15 years or so the level of play for boys and girls basketball has improved. The players today are more athletic and the game is faster. The idea behind a three-man crew is to compensate for that.”

Bastrop’s Bryan Greenwood, president of the Louisiana High School Officials Association, said going from three-person to two-person basketball crews — even for some games — leads to a deeper issue.

“If basketball officials wanted to make more money, they could go call middle school or youth league games and do that,” Greenwood said. “Most of us call high school games because we love doing it.

“By the same token if you hire a plumber you can’t tell him, ‘Sorry, I can’t afford to pay you as much as other the other plumbers out there.’ ”


If officials make more money working middle school and youth league games, then the schools need to sit back and realize they simply don't pay their officials well enough.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

“By the same token if you hire a plumber you can’t tell him, ‘Sorry, I can’t afford to pay you as much as other the other plumbers out there.’ ”

Is this the analogy that you really wanted to use? Or, did you really want to sue it? You sly dog.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Is this the analogy that you really wanted to use? Or, did you really want to sue it? You sly dog.

I do not see why not.

Cause if you do not pay the plumber you will leave a lot of crap behind. Some goes for the fees for officials.

Peace

[just another ref]

This thing is taking a lot of turns. Got a call yesterday morning to go call some games today out of our normal area. Got another call an hour later saying there were threats of trouble if we went out of area so we weren't going to go.
This morning got another call saying forget the threats, some other guys called out of area last night, so no big deal, got another long distance assignment for today. Got another call a few minutes ago saying there's a meeting going on now in which they're trying to say that any games played with officials that crossed lines won't count, so the deal's off again.

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by just another ref

This thing is taking a lot of turns. Got a call yesterday morning to go call some games today out of our normal area. Got another call an hour later saying there were threats of trouble if we went out of area so we weren't going to go.
This morning got another call saying forget the threats, some other guys called out of area last night, so no big deal, got another long distance assignment for today. Got another call a few minutes ago saying there's a meeting going on now in which they're trying to say that any games played with officials that crossed lines won't count, so the deal's off again.

I bet guys who live near the border of another state belong to the other state associations. Or, if they don't, they will.

[fullor30]

On a smaller scale there is an AAU outfit in northern suburbs of Chicago, Joy of the Game that has their own facility, four courts, workout area etc. It's well attended with instruction, AAU teams, and constant tournaments all year round. The owner is notoriously cheap, paying 25 a game which is low for our area and really has no respect for officials. On occassion if you had a four game set and third was cancelled yet you had to hang around for fourth game, he'd try and weasel out of paying for that game despite already receiving tourney fees from teams. They have now gone to paying 22.50 a game. Sadly, there are officials who will drive a long way to take the games. As you can imagine, the officiating is poor, and when they and try and slip in a stop clock tourney to attract more teams, this typically adds at least an hour extra to a four game set, no extra pay.

I always felt slimy when taking games there, and only would if I had nothing better to do. Glad they lowered fees as they'll never hear my whistle there again.

That said, it's basic economics, some guys will work for that.

Have some pride.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by just another ref

This thing is taking a lot of turns. Got a call yesterday morning to go call some games today out of our normal area. Got another call an hour later saying there were threats of trouble if we went out of area so we weren't going to go.
This morning got another call saying forget the threats, some other guys called out of area last night, so no big deal, got another long distance assignment for today. Got another call a few minutes ago saying there's a meeting going on now in which they're trying to say that any games played with officials that crossed lines won't count, so the deal's off again.

I'm confused. You were going to cross?

[ref2coach]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I'm confused. You were going to cross?

My question also. Why would any referee undermine the attempt to get better compensation when the pay is ranked 50 out of 50? Do you feel that you and other referees are currently being compensated fairly?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by just another ref

This thing is taking a lot of turns. Got a call yesterday morning to go call some games today out of our normal area. Got another call an hour later saying there were threats of trouble if we went out of area so we weren't going to go.
This morning got another call saying forget the threats, some other guys called out of area last night, so no big deal, got another long distance assignment for today. Got another call a few minutes ago saying there's a meeting going on now in which they're trying to say that any games played with officials that crossed lines won't count, so the deal's off again.

You planning on scabbing, huh? Make sure nobody is able to hang you up by your belt, then.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

You planning on scabbing, huh? Make sure nobody is able to hang you up by your belt, then.

There could be other factors involved....unfortunately. If his association is directing him to go somewhere, he might not have much choice but to go, other than making up an excuse to decline the games.

That's the problem when you get into situations like this and different officiating associations in a state with maybe different viewpoints are involved. Hopefully every official in each association was allowed their say and the majority rules, but there's a real world out there also.

Imo it's a no-brainer. If they don't do something, they'll be working for $36 a freaking game ten years from now. And also imo, unless they do do something about it, they really have no right to b!tch.