Dec 09 2008
NFL Players’ Union: An Enabler
I am generally pretty pro-union. I can appreciate that the unions in the united States have historically played a pivotal role in protecting workers from exploitation and safety hazards. Unions have played key roles in ending child labor, pushing for minimum wage, and the establishment of the 40 hour work week. Oftentimes unions have protected the blue collar laborer who might otherwise not have a voice. People can debate all day about the usefulness and role of unions today. In fact I want to take a look at the NFL Players’ Union.
In the recent shooting incident involving Plaxico Burress the Giants organization felt it necessary to suspend the wide receiver. The Players’ Union has stepped in to defend Burress, as is one of their main purposes. The union believes that the Giants violated the collective bargaining agreement with their decision to suspend Burress and place him on the non-football injury list which will also keep him out of the playoffs.
While I realize that the Players’ Union is meant to protect the interests of the players, is coming to the defense of Burress really what they have been charged with doing in this instance? While it is true that Burress has been fined and set for past misbehavior, the superstar has really had behavioral issues since joining the Giants in 2005. If this were the first instance of misbehavior I really doubt the penalty by the Giants would have been this severe. That said, if this were not Plaxico Burress, the past misbehavior might have resulted in more severe penalties which could have sent a real message and perhaps curbed this behavior before it went so far. While I appreciate that the Players’ Union has fought for things like long term healthcare for veteran players, and has effectively used collective bargaining for the benefit of less well compensated positions and players, I am disappointed that the union is being manipulated in the current situation.
I do not think that Burress is an ignorant man. He knows that what he did was both stupid and wrong but he refuses to take responsibility. While there has not been a trial yet, the Players’ Union may not be able to help Burress when it comes to protecting him from the legal system. If found guilty of felony weapons possession the mandatory minimum sentence is 3.5 years.
