All articles tagged with #players association
MLB owners push for a salary cap in a high-stakes, four-year labor dispute with the Players Association. Insiders warn that premature concessions could erode trust and leadership, as both sides brace for a prolonged fight that threatens to overshadow what could be a remarkable 2026 season.
Amid stalled negotiations ahead of the 2026 season, the USL emailed Championship players with guidance on crossing a potential picket line and resigning from the USL Players’ Association after players authorized a strike. The league says operations can continue under current terms while talks continue, while the USLPA decries the move as union-busting as negotiations, mediated by FMCS, continue.
NBA guard Terry Rozier is on unpaid administrative leave due to a federal gambling investigation, with the NBA Players Association planning to appeal the decision, arguing it violates the presumption of innocence and the collective bargaining agreement.
New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole expressed frustration with the ongoing dispute between Major League Baseball and the players' association over the pitch clock, likening it to divorced parents unable to agree on how to handle a misbehaving child. Cole, who is currently sidelined with right elbow inflammation, criticized both sides for not addressing the issue collaboratively and emphasized the importance of considering players' concerns. The debate stems from the union's claim that the pitch clock has led to an increase in pitcher injuries, which MLB refutes, citing a research study into the causes of these injuries. Cole highlighted the potential long-term effects of the pitch clock on pitchers' health and urged for a more empathetic approach from MLB.
MLB and the Players Association are at odds over the recent surge in pitching injuries, with the union blaming the shortened pitch clock for the health concerns while the league points to the increase in pitching velocity as the primary cause. The MLBPA claims that the league's refusal to acknowledge the impact of the pitch clock changes poses a threat to players, while MLB cites studies and research to counter these claims. The ongoing dispute comes as several pitchers, including the Yankees’ Jonathan Loaisiga, Cleveland’s Shane Bieber, and Atlanta’s Spencer Strider, are facing season-ending injuries.
The NFL Players Association's survey of 1,706 players revealed that on-field success does not always correlate with workplace satisfaction, with the Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings topping the list for best NFL workplaces, while the Washington Commanders ranked as the worst for the second year in a row. The Kansas City Chiefs, despite recent Super Bowl wins, were ranked 31st due to player dissatisfaction with facilities. Other grievances included cold showers, sewage leaks, and meal charges at various teams, prompting the NFL to value the feedback and commit to improving the players' experiences.
MLB players are expressing concerns about the new Nike-generated, Fanatics-produced "performance jerseys" set to be used this season, with complaints ranging from the lighter fabric causing see-through pants to issues with the fit and appearance. The Major League Baseball Players Association is gathering feedback and hoping for changes before Opening Day, as players express disappointment that the uniforms have become a major topic of discussion. Executive director Tony Clark is visiting spring training camps to understand the various complaints and will continue to engage with players to determine potential next steps.
The NFL and NFL Players Association are in the final stages of negotiating the team-by-team salary cap limit for 2024, with expectations that it could reach as high as $243 million per team, and possibly even higher. The final number is anticipated to be determined after negotiations at the Scouting Combine, and it's expected to significantly impact player contracts and team finances.
Los Angeles Chargers' running back Austin Ekeler is organizing a Zoom meeting for NFL running backs to discuss their "depressed market" and determine their next steps. The meeting, scheduled for Saturday night, has invited all big-name running backs, with the NFL Players Association expected to be involved. Running backs like Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley, and Tony Pollard were franchise tagged this offseason, while Pittsburgh Steelers' RB Najee Harris expressed frustration on Twitter. Finding a solution to the running back market may be challenging, as the latest CBA runs through 2030, and organizing a player strike on a mass scale would be difficult.
The NBA and players association have agreed on major changes to the NBA draft process, including requiring all invited players to attend and participate in the NBA Draft Combine beginning in 2024, and doing away with automatic eligibility for high school or collegiate players that sign professional contracts with entities such as G League Ignite, Overtime Elite, or the Australian NBL. The changes favor NBA teams and expand the pool of potential prospects for alternative pathway entities, opening up a wide range of options for players to choose from.
The NBA and National Basketball Players Association have tentatively agreed to remove marijuana from the drug testing program, allowing players to use it without penalty if the collective bargaining agreement is ratified. The NBA had already discontinued random testing for marijuana in 2021 due to COVID-19. The seven-year deal aims to recognize players as true partners with the governors in both the NBA and the business world at large. Some NBA athletes, including Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Allen Iverson, have been open about their own weed use and advocated for cannabis legalization.
Minor league players have ratified their first collective bargaining agreement with Major League Baseball, with over 99% of players approving the deal. The five-year agreement will see minimum salaries rise and players paid in the offseason for the first time. Most players will be guaranteed housing, and players will gain rights to second medical opinions, a 401k plan, and arbitration to contest discipline under a just-cause standard. The domestic violence and drug policies will be covered by the union agreement.
Major League Baseball and the minor-league players in the MLB Players Association have reached an agreement on a collective bargaining agreement, the first in history that will apply to minor-league players. The CBA will have a five-year duration and will at least double pay at all levels. Additionally, players will be paid "almost year-round." Other changes include a reduction in the Domestic Reserve List, a joint drug agreement and domestic violence policy, and improved housing and transportation for players.
Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have agreed on a five-year Collective Bargaining Agreement for minor-league players, which will at least double pay at all levels and pay players "almost year-round." The pay structure will change for each level of play, and the Domestic Reserve List will be reduced from 180 to 165 players beginning in 2024. Minor-league players voted to unionize last September.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver is hopeful that a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the league and its players can be reached by the end of this week, though he stopped short of predicting that a deal would actually get struck. The league and the National Basketball Players Association face a midnight Friday deadline for either side to decide that they will opt out of the deal and end the current CBA on June 30.