A ll 30 teams were represented in today’s meeting where players were to mull over the NBA’s offer. According to Derek Fisher, there was a unanimous decision to reject the offer and to file a “disclaimer of interest.” In other words the NBA players union is going to likely decertify and take the NBA to court. Without one official union in place representing the players there will no longer be a single party the NBA owners can negotiate with. Unless the owners miraculously cave on their demands at the final hour, this move by the players is likely one that will cost the NBA the season. The court process is a very long and treacherous road.
NBA Players Association executive director Billy Hunter says the union will not accept the owners’ proposed collective bargaining agreement and will instead seek to disband the union, a move that likely jeopardizes the 2011-12 season.
The union, whose members have been locked out since July 1st, also plans to pursue an antitrust lawsuit against the NBA.
“As of this moment, we’re going to be in the process of converting the NBA Players Association into a trade association,” Hunter said Monday.
Hunter said the union has negotiated in good faith over two years and feels that they have given enough, while the NBA was “not willing and prepared to negotiate.”
“The players feel that they are not prepared to accept any ultimatums,” Hunter said.
“Going forward, collective bargaining will not be how this process continues for us,” added union president Derek Fisher. “We’ll let our legal team really lead the charge.”
“We continue to want to get to work, to get back to work, to negotiate, but that process has broken down,” Fisher added.
Commissioner David Stern urged players to take the deal on the table, saying it was the best the NBA could offer. He warned the union that decertification would not be not a winning strategy.
Source: espn.com
