The NFL and NFLPA can't agree on much of anything these days and that's once again demonstrated by the league's latest action. The NFL has filed a charge with National Labor Relations Board arguing that the NFLPA has not negotiated with the league in good faith by preparing to decertify and file an antitrust lawsuit against the league.
Here's part of the league's statement:
"The union's purpose in doing so is to evade its collective bargaining obligations under the National Labor Relations Act, to seek to use antitrust litigation to enjoin a lawful lockout, and once again attempt to achieve its bargaining objectives under the coercive guise of an antitrust settlement."
The NFL is asking the NLRB to force the union to bargain in good faith. The NFLPA, for their part, dismissed the claims in a statement issued to reporters.
"The players didn't walk out and the players can't lock out," the union said. "Players want a fair, new and long-term deal. We have offered proposals and solutions on every issue the owners have raised. This claim has absolutely no merit."
In the big picture, this is the latest disagreement that suggets the two sides are preparing for a long bargaining process that could very well include the courts.
The deadline to get a deal done is by March 3 or else the union will decertify, per the league's claims, or the league will lock out the players.