Gotnext Women's Basketball Boards

mb · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2003 11:05 am Post subject: Collective Bargaining Agreement

Posted on ESPN board:

Quote:

A postponement is possible if playoffs, league are still at odds.

By Debbie Arrington -- Bee Staff Writer - (Published April 4, 2003)The WNBA's
annual draft, set for April 16, may have to be postponed if the league cannot
reach an agreement with its players' union.

The two sides still have not agreed on how players should be dispersed from
defunct franchises in Portland and Miami, as well as larger issues such as
free agency, salaries and marketing rights. The lottery to determine position
in the college draft also has not been held. Out of 14 existing teams, the
Sacramento Monarchs are in the No. 5 draft position based on their 14-18
record in 2002.

But until some contract resolution can be reached, everything is on hold.

"We can't go forward without an agreement," said Traci Cook, the WNBA's
senior director for strategic and corporate communications. "We have no deal
with the players, so we can't plan ahead."

Without a contract since Sept. 15, the players' union met with WNBA
representatives again this week, but league officials declined to speculate
if any resolution is near. Both sides have said they're committed to reaching
an agreement. The WNBA's seventh season is scheduled to tip off May 22.

"We've been talking," added Cook, "plus a lot of documents are also going
back and forth."

Team training camps are set to open April 27, but that date may be pushed
back if no contract is reached. The league's pre-draft combine, scheduled to
start next Thursday in Chicago, also is in jeopardy.

"We can't do anything without that agreement," said Cook. "We'll reschedule
if we have to."

mb · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2003 11:07 am Post subject:

It likely should say "players" instead of "playoffs".

mb · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2003 4:32 pm Post subject:

Pre-draft camp cancelled:

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/5564488.htm

old article...major negotiators named:

http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=1680&xlc=875006

mb · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2003 4:45 pm Post subject:

post from ESPN board (posted prior on Yahoo board):

Quote: This was posted on the Yahoo! WNBA board:

"I spoke with Stacy Thomas last night briefly and I did ask her about contract negotiations.

Yes, this coming Saturday is the you-know-what or get off the pot date. However, the word she is getting is although both sides are still far apart, neither side wants to see the season tank and are willing to do whatever it takes so there are games this summer.

One sticking point is endorsements and the restrictions on them. I asked about how Swoopes is able to skirt that and Stacy had the same questions herself.

She also was curious as to why Swoops, Thompson et al was allowed to play whenever wherever for the WNBL. That started another stream of thought.

Very gracious and very nice young lady."

I would have thought the endorsement restrictions would have been resolved in the players' favor right away -- it provides them additional income, with no outlay for the league or owners. I guess the league is holding it back as a last bargaining chip or something.

I'm also falling into the malaise of believing the whole thing might go up in flames. Somebody slap me!

mb · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2003 9:29 am Post subject:

Bargaining Impasse Threatens Season:

http://www.ctnow.com/sports/basketball/hc-wnba0408.artapr08,0,7136732.story?coll=hc%2Dheadlines%2Dsports

mb

http://www.wnba.com/news/stern_comments_030408.html

mb · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2003 9:05 am Post subject:

From ESPN board:

http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20030409/5051034s.htm

Quote: WNBA labor issues

Key differences in the collective bargaining agreement negotiations:

Player salaries

Currently: $40,000 veteran minimum; $30,000 rookie minimum.

League proposal: $42,100 veteran minimum; $25,000 rookie minimum.

Union proposal: $48,000 veteran minimum; $33,000 rookie minimum.

Hard salary cap

League proposal: $8.6 million total, $616,000 per team.

Union proposal: $10.5 million total, $9.5 million guaranteed, $750,000 per team.

Free agency

League proposal: Restricted free agency for players going into their seventh season; unrestricted for players going into their 10th season.

Union proposal: Restricted free agency for players going into their fourth season; unrestricted for players going into their fifth season.

Core player designations

League proposal: Teams can designate two core players at the end of their contracts. These players cannot become free agents.

Union proposal: Teams can designate two core players at the end of their contracts, with the first right of refusal. Core players would be restricted free agents and after a second designation would be unrestricted free agents.

mb · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2003 9:12 am Post subject:

Val discouraged, comments from Lobo:

http://www.ctnow.com/sports/basketball/hc-wnbalabor0409.artapr09,0,5159179.story?coll=hc%2Dheadlines%2Dsports

mb · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2003 3:11 pm Post subject:

Informative article by Jeff Metcalfe:

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/mercury/0409wnba0409.html

mb · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2003 1:54 pm Post subject:

Both sides beleive deadline will be met:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/134672627_wnba10.html

NY Times article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/10/sports/basketball/y10wnba.html

From the Indianapolis Star:

http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/5/034937-5535-036.html

mb · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2003 2:15 pm Post subject:

Quote: With so much to be done, Ackerman said the players need to help the league move forward.

"We're a young league, we're in very difficult economic times and our business is still in embryonic stages," she said. "We simply need a deal that acknowledges these extraordinary financial situations. The owners are willing to subsidize [the WNBA] only to a point."

In the next seven days, the league must determine where that point is.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/ny-wnba113216278apr11,0,6711130.story?coll=ny%2Dsports%2Dhomepage

Quote: Despite the differences, veteran player agent Bruce Levy said that he's confident both sides will settle before the deadline.

"I think that we will see an agreement come off, but we're just at a point where there's a lot of saber rattling from both sides — the WNBA and the players association are both baring their teeth on this," Levy said.

Levy's agency has been involved in women's professional basketball for 23 years and represents 32 WNBA players, including Silver Stars guard LaNeishea Caufield.

http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=200&xlc=977747

mb · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2003 8:19 am Post subject:

Labor dispute could finish WNBA:

http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/sports/5629608.htm

Mat H · Joined: 24 Jun 2002 Posts: 168 Location: Glendale AZ

This sh*t is for the birds. Both sides need to put their ego's aside and get an agreement promptly before pro womens ball is gone for good. :evil:

skew11 · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 372

Top WNBA Stars believe Collective Bargaining Agreement will be reached

By Rob Goldenberg
Sports Radio Network
www.sportsradionet.com

With the imposed deadline of April 18 fast approaching, consensus among a
group comprised of some of the WNBA's elite stars is that a deal will be
struck between the league and players union.
Sheryl Swoopes, a four time WNBA all-star and part of the WNBA negotiating
committee, believes at this point it is about both sides trying to make the
fairest deal, but that the end result will not put the impending season in
jeopardy.
"There is definitely a lot of confidence, Swoopes said this past weekend at
the NWBL Pro-Cup. "There is no doubt in my mind that there will be a season
this year. We are not going to for anything stupid to jeopardize this league.
We want to fight what we believe in, but at the same time we won't push them
to the point where it threatens the season."
One of the leagues rising stars, Becky Hammon from the New York Liberty
concurs. "The bottom line is that we play basketball. I have full faith in
our union that there we will be an agreement."
Marie Ferdinand, a WNBA All-Star now with the San Antonio's Silver Stars
believes that the players need to level set their expectations and that their
demands may not be realistic especially since the WNBA is such a young
league.
"It is frustrating at times, because we want more. But we need to be patient,
she said. "When we are watching the NBA players and seeing how much they are
making we get very selfish. We just need to realize that the NBA has been
around for a very long time and give our league time to grow."
While player compensation has taken center stage, with players asking for
both league minimum and maximum salaries to be raised, they are insistent
that this is only part of the issue.
"I don't think it is a case of us being greedy," said Hammon. "We are not
sitting here making millionaires, and we are not asking to make millions
more."
Players have asked for modest increases to salaries, but have also wanted to
have free agency and the WNBA's benefit plan to be reexamined.
"Its not all about the money," said Swoopes. A retirement, pension and
medical plan are all important to us as well."
With other professional sports going through threatened work stoppages and,
bitter debates between player unions and league owners, the WNBA doesn't
believe that the ongoing negotiating process, which has lasted for the better
part of a year, will have any adverse effect on the leagues perception by the
media or fans.
"Things like this are always going to happen. This is all about finding a
common ground, said Seattle Storm all-star point guard Sue Bird. "As a worker
in any business you need to fight to fight for what is right to you."
With an end to the CBA in sight - the players believe the next focus should
be to try to answer some of the other economic issues that have surfaced
within the WNBA over the last year.

For the full version of these interviews visit www.sportsradionet.com.

skew11 · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 372

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/sports/5674985.htm

mb · Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2003 9:33 am Post subject:

Stern's World:

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/21/sports/basketball/21roberts.html

xzchief · Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 29 Location: Orange County, CA

It sounds like we are were we were Friday afternoon. Has anything happened in the last 60 to 72 hours?

I read somewhere that David Stern wanted the agreement signed by the players by Tuesday. That's tomorrow and it's April 22. Exactly one month before the scheduled start of the season.