Russell Okung won’t go down without a fight. The Panthers tackle says he will appeal the dismissal of his unfair labor claim against the NFLPA (Twitter link). The National Labor Relations Board turned down Okung’s case just last week.
Okung claims NFLPA leader DeMaurice Smith pushed the CBA vote through to union-wide vote, despite the opposition of the executive committee. Some established vets and union leaders, including Okung, were vocal in their disapproval, but the union’s rules didn’t necessarily require their yes vote.
The executive committee voted 6-5 in February not to recommend the owners’ CBA pitch, and after the NFL Draft Combine meeting, the exec committee was reportedly at 7-4 against recommending the CBA. The key word there is “recommending” – the NFLPA’s bylaws do not necessarily require a thumbs-up from that group. After that, the union’s 32-player board voted to send the proposal to the entire player body.
“We look forward to a neutral party scrutinizing the NFLPA leadership’s history of circumventing and ignoring the union’s constitutional mandates and failure to represent the best interests of the labor force, culminating in a flawed, disappointing Collective Bargaining Agreement and forcing out of a leadership position a person who has shown enormous courage in fighting for players’ rights and protections,” Okung’s attorney said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Okung is gearing up for his new team in advance of the 2020 season. The Chargers shipped Okung to the Panthers in March and received guard Trai Turner in exchange.
“I made it really clear, I’m not here to just rebuild,” Okung said recently (via ESPN.com’s David Newton). “I’m here to win, and win right now.”
Better watch himself or he will be the next Kaep
he’s in denial because he lost
Well, if it’s pretty black and white that the NFLPA does not need executive committee approval before proceeding..then I don’t see what leg Okung can stand on. Unfortunately, unions are as full of the same tripe as the organizations they oppose.
the exec committee voted 7-4 against
the 32 player board voted 17-14 for
the players voted over voted for it 1,019 – 959
Maybe the exec committee is not actually representing the players and needs to be changed? While it is close on the for .. the fact the exec committee was further against shows that maybe they are not in touch with what the players want.
Or, consider the possibility that as player reps, they have the responsibility to more completely understand any proposals being put to the players they represent. Out of the nearly 2,000 votes cast, I wonder how many of them read the CBA they were voting on. Of the ones who read it, I wonder how many have the savvy to understand the massive implications of a CBA.
I would think the players agent read the thing and said yes or no. There is a lot on there most would not understand. We are going through that with my father’s will. One of my sister’s talked him into changing the will. She got it off the internet and put stuff in the wrong place. She tried to screw the family but made the will invalid. Better to let the experts do their job.
Okung is such a tool why do these teams keep pushing him a ton of money for holding and off side penalties? I was so glad when he left Seattle. He was good for 2-3 penalties a game and mostly at bad times. He is going to Carolina to win? He might want to check the roster.
yes the 32 player board … ie a player rep from every team in the league designated to represent the players have that responsibility and be the final gate to the overall league vote.
Also if i am not mistaken arent all draftees from the last few years supposed to be taking a money management class / lecture.
Also majority of the players have an agent and the agent’s money is based on what the player they represent makes. They are im pretty sure well versed in contracts and loopholes and something that directly affects their paycheck you dont think they are recommending a way for more money for all.
So whether they choose to use that to make their decision or not is their business so they have enough feedback to make a quality decision.
Then why even have an “executive committee?”
Bingo! The NFLPA has been dysfunctional for as long as I can remember with political infighting the norm rather than an exception. I realize that a lot of these guys have been banged in the head a few times but isn’t it about time they woke up and got their act together?
It’s over. Move on.
Just another pissed off communist mad the committee can’t overrule the people.