Louisiana Officials Possible Strike?

[LouisianaDave]

The attitudes of JAR is the reason that Louisiana is so cheaply paid. I work for the Baton Rouge association and we held a special meeting and the members voted to be unavailable. All this talk of contracts is irrelevant. The way the association works, the principals enter into an agreement with an officials association to use their officials. Then the association must use the an assignor paid for and hired by the principals. On Feb 1, all except for 3 officials were unavailable to work and therefore games had to be postponed. As independent contractors we have the right to be available or unavailable.

As JAR state principals voted down the pay raise due to the threat of a strike. The principals figured there wasnt enough unity amongst officials to actually follow through on the walkout, but when the games got postponed the officials showed the principals there are more guys willing to stay home(me) than guys who were working (JAR). Even though 4 associations sat that is a misleading quote. There were 4 association who were done for the season. For one Tuesday night the officials of the following cities sat Shreveport, Monroe, Hammond, Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Thibidoux and a majority of New Orleans. Lafayette didnt vote and worked and Lake Charles worked.

So by uniting as one, we showed the principals we were a force to be reckoned with. Even though I dont make a lot of money officiating HS, there are some really good officials in this state and we have quite a few collegiate refs out there.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by LouisianaDave

Then the association must use the an assignor paid for and hired by the principals.

Interesting. Could it be that JAR's assignor's little conflict-of-interest kept his association from coming together and voting on this? Or do the officials operate separately from the assignor?

When I worked in NO (for one season only), we had an older gentleman who assigned by having everyone stand around him and throw up their hands for games for the next few weeks. Weird, weird system. Don't remember how much we got paid then -- I was just happy to get out and work a few games a week, then. Of course, I was a young kid then, and had little other demands on my free time.

[LouisianaDave]

When it comes to the assignors, its definitely a weird situation. Every association must have a president and a board. But the assignors have all the power, because our assignor tried to implore us before we voted to think about the kids, etc. So there is definitely a conflict of interest. We use the arbiter but there is no public ratings you just get an email saying you have games then you go on the arbiter and see what you get, sort of like christmas every wednesday morning, lol

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by LouisianaDave

The attitudes of JAR is the reason that Louisiana is so cheaply paid. I work for the Baton Rouge association and we held a special meeting and the members voted to be unavailable. All this talk of contracts is irrelevant. The way the association works, the principals enter into an agreement with an officials association to use their officials. Then the association must use the an assignor paid for and hired by the principals. On Feb 1, all except for 3 officials were unavailable to work and therefore games had to be postponed. As independent contractors we have the right to be available or unavailable.

As JAR state principals voted down the pay raise due to the threat of a strike. The principals figured there wasnt enough unity amongst officials to actually follow through on the walkout, but when the games got postponed the officials showed the principals there are more guys willing to stay home(me) than guys who were working (JAR). Even though 4 associations sat that is a misleading quote. There were 4 association who were done for the season. For one Tuesday night the officials of the following cities sat Shreveport, Monroe, Hammond, Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Thibidoux and a majority of New Orleans. Lafayette didnt vote and worked and Lake Charles worked.

So by uniting as one, we showed the principals we were a force to be reckoned with. Even though I dont make a lot of money officiating HS, there are some really good officials in this state and we have quite a few collegiate refs out there.

Thanks for the info, Dave. It sure is a little bit different than some of the things we've been told. Keep on fighting the good fight. if you don't, they'll still be trying to pay you $36/game twenty years from now.

The sad part is that the JAR's of the world will get the increase too even though they did everything they could to maintain the status quo.

The concept of having an assignor whose best interests obviously lie contrary to the officials that he's assigning is just plain ridiculous imo. There's nothing to stop that assignor from punishing officials for their work refusal by withholding future game assignments from them.

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by LouisianaDave

The attitudes of JAR is the reason that Louisiana is so cheaply paid. I work for the Baton Rouge association and we held a special meeting and the members voted to be unavailable. All this talk of contracts is irrelevant. The way the association works, the principals enter into an agreement with an officials association to use their officials. Then the association must use the an assignor paid for and hired by the principals. On Feb 1, all except for 3 officials were unavailable to work and therefore games had to be postponed. As independent contractors we have the right to be available or unavailable.

As JAR state principals voted down the pay raise due to the threat of a strike. The principals figured there wasnt enough unity amongst officials to actually follow through on the walkout, but when the games got postponed the officials showed the principals there are more guys willing to stay home(me) than guys who were working (JAR). Even though 4 associations sat that is a misleading quote. There were 4 association who were done for the season. For one Tuesday night the officials of the following cities sat Shreveport, Monroe, Hammond, Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Thibidoux and a majority of New Orleans. Lafayette didnt vote and worked and Lake Charles worked.

So why did you not have a special meeting before this current contract was signed and demand a raise then? And how is the contract irrelevant, whether you like the way the system is structured or not? As you point out, we, as individuals are not contracted and have the right to sit out at any time. But you think it's okay to desert your assignor in the middle of the season? Also, if you were done for the season, what changed? All we have is a promise to reconsider the proposal, or a similar proposal. This promise, in and of itself, seems to me to mean very little.

[LouisianaDave]

Originally Posted by just another ref

So why did you not have a special meeting before this current contract was signed and demand a raise then? And how is the contract irrelevant, whether you like the way the system is structured or not? As you point out, we, as individuals are not contracted and have the right to sit out at any time. But you think it's okay to desert your assignor in the middle of the season? Also, if you were done for the season, what changed? All we have is a promise to reconsider the proposal, or a similar proposal. This promise, in and of itself, seems to me to mean very little.

The contracts are signed in Aug by the assocations president, schools and assignors. The raise proposal is was on the convention floor to be voted on the last weekend in January. It would be hard to have a meeting to work/not work in August when the vote isnt for another 5/6months.

Sitting out that day I feel made more of a point to show the principals that you reneged on your promise, and that we are taking a stand. There is only so much loyolty I will show an assignor, I felt this was bigger than what was being called deserting him. Its not like he hires and fires me like a collegiate assignor can, all he can do send me to worse games and I felt the juice was worth the squeeze.

The Baton Rouge association was not done for the season. The associations who were done for the season revoted after the emergency meeting to go back to work. Even though its all a promise and they could vote down the raise again, we officials are working in good faith. The publicity generated is enough to show that if they do vote down the raise in June for the next year, then when enough football officials strike and there is no football in Louisiana then the principals will be shown publicly that they cant be trusted. In this instance the media helped bring to light the reason why Louisiana is paid so poorly and its because of the principals.

[azbigdawg]

When I read this... I realize how good we have it here in AZ. ONE office assigns the games.... no (very little) backstabbing... No (very little) elitism... you work what you earn... the control some AD's and principals have is mind blowing and puzzling... .they should have NO say in who officiates their games...