Louisiana Officials Possible Strike?

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by just another ref

The guys who refused to work in the middle of the season after making a commitment to do so are now "giving up money" while the "vultures" come in to pick up these "extra bucks." Well, according to you, (this point is valid) there was no money to be made at the current rate in the first place, so what were they giving up, other than credibility. I was set to make a 300 mile round trip yesterday to call 2 games and come home with about $150.
You think this was for personal gain?

Yes, if it was doing games that another group of officials declined to do in their pursuit of a decent per game fee.

Some officials are refusing games at the current ridiculously low state pay scale to try and raise the game fee levels for all of the officials in their state. The buzzards though are happy to swoop in and take those games at the current ridiculously low state pay scale to make a few extra bucks. The result? The LHSAA is happy as hell to get their games covered and there is absolutely no incentive for them to ever offer the officials a raise. Been like that since 2007, hasn't it?

The buzzards deserve $36 a game imo.

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Yes, if it was doing games that another group of officials declined to do in their pursuit of a decent per game fee.

Some officials are refusing games at the current ridiculously low state pay scale to try and raise the game fee levels for all of the officials in their state. The buzzards though are happy to swoop in and take those games at the current ridiculously low state pay scale to make a few extra bucks. The result? The LHSAA is happy as hell to get their games covered and there is absolutely no incentive for them to ever offer the officials a raise. Been like that since 2007, hasn't it?

The buzzards deserve $36 a game imo.

So you think it is an acceptable practice to stop working, right in the middle of a job you have agreed to do?

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by just another ref

So you think it is an acceptable practice to stop working, right in the middle of a job you have agreed to do?

If I have been promised a pay raise to do that job and that pay raise was subsequently unilaterally cancelled, I feel that it's perfectly acceptable behavior in this particular instance. The LA officials had an agreement on work conditions. There was no agreement to make a subsequent unilateral change in those work conditions.

Sory, JAR, but my sympathies lie with the LA officials who are trying to gain a fair game fee for ALL of the officials in the their state. When one side fails to follow through on their promises, you have 2 choices. Do something about about it or bend over and take it.

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by just another ref

So you think it is an acceptable practice to stop working, right in the middle of a job you have agreed to do?

Sounds like a teachers strike to me.........

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Yes, if it was doing games that another group of officials declined to do in their pursuit of a decent per game fee.

Some officials are refusing games at the current ridiculously low state pay scale to try and raise the game fee levels for all of the officials in their state. The buzzards though are happy to swoop in and take those games at the current ridiculously low state pay scale to make a few extra bucks. The result? The LHSAA is happy as hell to get their games covered and there is absolutely no incentive for them to ever offer the officials a raise. Been like that since 2007, hasn't it?

The buzzards deserve $36 a game imo.

I don't get the reason for taking games 150 miles away, personally. Is it some "think of the children, let's swoop in riding white horses and save them" mentality? Well, those children will be just fine missing a game or two or even more if necessary.

I found the fees for LA:

http://lhsaa.org/images/db_handbook/47.pdf

Basketball - $36 for 2-person, $31 for 3-person (only at the highest classification -- at lower classifications, an official could receive as little as $28 in a 3-person crew)

Soccer - $45 per official

Baseball - $55 per official

Football - $75 per official (the white hat gets an extra $15)

Softball - $95 per crew (it appears the plate umpire gets $50 and the base umpire $45)

What I find stunning is that basketball officials and soccer officials are so underpaid compared with other sports. I mean, basketball paid considerably less than SOFTBALL? Really?

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I don't get the reason for taking games 150 miles away, personally. Is it some "think of the children, let's swoop in riding white horses and save them" mentality? Well, those children will be just fine missing a game or two or even more if necessary.

That's a bit dramatic, in my opinion. More like, the officials of the state have agreed to do a job. If, in the middle of the job, some choose not to work, others must step in to pick up the slack.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by just another ref

If, in the middle of the job, some choose not to work, others must step in to pick up the money.

Changed it to your real reason for doing so.

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by just another ref

That's a bit dramatic, in my opinion. More like, the officials of the state have agreed to do a job. If, in the middle of the job, some choose not to work, others must step in to pick up the slack.

Rich, I agree with you, a game or two missed just amplifies the need for officials, not hurting the 'children'. I think grabbing games is sublimely selfish as some officials see this as a chance to upgrade their games and make points with schools/assigners.

Gutless to take these games, have some pride for pete's sake.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by fullor30

Rich, I agree with you, a game or two missed just amplifies the need for officials, not hurting the 'children'. I think grabbing games is sublimely selfish as some officials see this as a chance to upgrade their games and make points with schools/assigners.

Gutless to take these games, have some pride for pete's sake.

And when the statement is made that by picking up these games now, the schools will reward your association in the future. Well, that's just bush league. Maybe I'm a bit harsh, though.

JR seems to be getting kindlier and gentlier, and I seem to be heading the other way.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

JR seems to be getting kindlier and gentlier, and I seem to be heading the other way.

Somebody has to pick up the slack. :shrug:

[wfd21]

Just watched YouTube video from WDSUTV on Refs Boycott.
Sorry but these guys don't look to professional. Wind pants, Belts, White Sneakers? Can somebody put up a link?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by just another ref

That's a bit dramatic, in my opinion. More like, the officials of the state have agreed to do a job. If, in the middle of the job, some choose not to work, others must step in to pick up the slack.

Must? I don't think so. Maybe you can put some blame on the officials who were assigned and then refused to work (although without a specific contract tied to that official, I don't think so), but you personally have no duty whatsoever. If you had other commitments that night, you would've said no. You wanted to do those games, period.

[Judtech]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I found the fees for LA:

http://lhsaa.org/images/db_handbook/47.pdf

Basketball - $36 for 2-person, $31 for 3-person (only at the highest classification -- at lower classifications, an official could receive as little as $28 in a 3-person crew)

Soccer - $45 per official

Baseball - $55 per official

Football - $75 per official (the white hat gets an extra $15)

Softball - $95 per crew (it appears the plate umpire gets $50 and the base umpire $45)

What I find stunning is that basketball officials and soccer officials are so underpaid compared with other sports. I mean, basketball paid considerably less than SOFTBALL? Really?

Simple supply and demand.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Judtech

Simple supply and demand.

Really?

I'm guessing there's a lot of football officials dying to get on the varsity field in LA and a lot of officials who are waiting for their chance to put on the white hat. If you want to use the supply and demand argument, varsity football (with the fewest games and probably a large supply of officials available) would pay less, right? I know I don't get a $15 bump for wearing the WH in Wisconsin, but I wouldn't trade it for another position on my crew.

Further, how about D-1 officiating? Since I know many officials who would give an extremity to work that level and the number of games is quite fewer, shouldn't those games pay LESS?

Supply and demand isn't the only factor at play here. Or, at least, it's not as simple as you make it.

[Judtech]

You are right, I may have over simplified. Decisions aren't always based on money, b/c quality comes into play. And when it comes to officiating, the majority of us do it for the 'love of the game' which also skew's simple text book formulas. Your point about WH in football is a great example. There is a valid intrinsic value to being a WH, Crew Chief, "Varsity" official.
I am not sure your D1 comparison makes as much sense b/c there is a huge difference in game fees, perks etc. The fact that college pays more then HS is one of the incentives that attracts quality officials. Thus with a larger pool to chose from you should have more quality to chose from.
I guess I was basing my comment on what has happened around here. For years it was difficult to find enough VB and LAX officials. When they drew up a new working agreement, there was a significant bump in game fees, and automagically there was an increase in the number of officials!! (The same problem is there with baseball and softball, but that is not a problem can be solved by game fees.)