Partial ref agreement reached.

[dmahurin]

Agreement on part of the terms has been reached.

@AlbertBreer: The NFL and NFLRA have reached an agreement on the issue of backup crews. Will have a developmental program. Pension remains an issue.

Edit:
@AlbertBreer: I'm told NFLRA offered short-term grandfathering as a concession, asked for ratification bonus. Non-starter for NFL. So pension's the issue.

@AlbertBreer: NFL wanted 21 full-time officials added. Compromise agreed on: 21 guys in developmental program, work w/crews during week, promoted on merit

@AlbertBreer: Solving the retirement plan has been the issue all along. So it's a significant hurdle. NFL brought benefits experts to Tuesday's meeting.

[Lzen]

Another issue that they are supposedly stuck on is a grading and punishment system. Seems the union doesn't want their bad refs to get benched. 4321

[WV]

Unless they make this their fulltime jobs then I can't see why they would be offered a pension. These refs are being a bit greedy IMO. Considering the amount of games they work in comparison to other leagues they are well compensated.

[notorious]

Another issue that they are supposedly stuck on is a grading and punishment system. Seems the union doesn't want their bad refs to get benched. 4321

This.


That's the biggest reason I don't like some unions: They protect the shitty.

[Chiefaholic]

Refs shouldn't be treated any different than any other job. If you are performing poorly, then you should be nervous that another man is looking to fill your shoes. Do your damn job and do it correctly as it has a direct effect on the post season, player contract negotiation, and disrupts the flow of the game. If you want to get paid pretty damn well, then you need to be the best of the best.

[oldandslow]

Unless they make this their fulltime jobs then I can't see why they would be offered a pension. These refs are being a bit greedy IMO. Considering the amount of games they work in comparison to other leagues they are well compensated.

Ball players work 6 months and get pensions. Read somewhere that refs work between 30-40 hours per week during the season...

Having said that, you are right. This is a second job to most of these guys.

[notorious]

It's all about leverage. Who needs who more?

[Lex Luthor]

Unless they make this their fulltime jobs then I can't see why they would be offered a pension. These refs are being a bit greedy IMO. Considering the amount of games they work in comparison to other leagues they are well compensated.
They already have a pension. The sticking point is that they want it to remain a defined benefit plan, and the NFL wants to replace it with a 401K.

What the NFL wants is basically what the vast majority of businesses are doing these days, so I can understand the NFL's position ideologically. I'm just surprised that it's a major sticking point because the amount of money involved (I heard it's around $3 million) is so insignificant compared to the billions of dollars that the NFL makes.

[Lex Luthor]

Unless they make this their fulltime jobs then I can't see why they would be offered a pension. These refs are being a bit greedy IMO. Considering the amount of games they work in comparison to other leagues they are well compensated.
Should a business base the salary of its employees on the number of hours worked in a year or on the value added by the employee?

[notorious]

Should a business base the salary of its employees on the number of hours worked in a year or on the value added by the employee?

This.



You are only as important as the value placed on your skills/services.

[htismaqe]

They already have a pension. The sticking point is that they want it to remain a defined benefit plan, and the NFL wants to replace it with a 401K.

What the NFL wants is basically what the vast majority of businesses are doing these days, so I can understand the NFL's position ideologically. I'm just surprised that it's a major sticking point because the amount of money involved (I heard it's around $3 million) is so insignificant compared to the billions of dollars that the NFL makes.

I heard somewhere that it's like $38K per ref.

[Deberg_1990]

Full time pay and bennies for guys who only work 4 or 5 months a year. Do they even work 5 days a week 40 hours? Unreal.......


Where do i sign up?

[notorious]

Full time pay and bennies for guys who only work 4 or 5 months a year. Do they even work 5 days a week 40 hours? Unreal.......


Where do i sign up?

Their skillset has a very high value. I think it's OK to pay them well.



What I hate is their protection of the "tenured" refs that suck ass. If they are struggling, they need to be benched.

[Chiefaholic]

Their skillset has a very high value. I think it's OK to pay them well.



What I hate is their protection of the "tenured" refs that suck ass. If they are struggling, they need to be benched.

Agree... This is my biggest beef with union jobs. If you want to keep your job, then you have to be better than the next guy in line who's hungry for the job.

[-King-]

Another issue that they are supposedly stuck on is a grading and punishment system. Seems the union doesn't want their bad refs to get benched. 4321

Um...


@AlbertBreer: NFL wanted 21 full-time officials added. Compromise agreed on: 21 guys in developmental program, work w/crews during week, promoted on merit
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[scho63]

It's all about leverage. Who needs who more?

:thumb:

I agree. Every person and group has the right to try and negotiate the best deal they can. The NFL tried to pull in replacements and they have failed. If the replacements did a great job, the regular refs would have been gone and SOL.

So now the shoe, or should I say whistle, is on the other foot....

[Brock]

Full time pay and bennies for guys who only work 4 or 5 months a year. Do they even work 5 days a week 40 hours? Unreal.......


Where do i sign up?

We don't need any more guys who couldn't hack it in the lingerie league.

[-King-]

Full time pay and bennies for guys who only work 4 or 5 months a year. Do they even work 5 days a week 40 hours? Unreal.......


Where do i sign up?

They travel every week and train every week. And its a high pressure and pseudo high profile job. Cant blame them for wanting what they want.
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[Reerun_KC]

We don't need any more guys who couldn't hack it in the lingerie league.We have enough of those guys posing as regulars...

The NFLRA really needs to purge out the shit and clean house. No need to keep the guys that are blowing games and calls...

[notorious]

We have enough of those guys posing as regulars...

The NFLRA really needs to purge out the shit and clean house. No need to keep the guys that are blowing games and calls...

This guy first. He always seems to screw us over.

http://ts3.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=5016642787673398&id=ded99f3e41e402dd4b17217e791c2d95

[Amnorix]

They already have a pension. The sticking point is that they want it to remain a defined benefit plan, and the NFL wants to replace it with a 401K.

What the NFL wants is basically what the vast majority of businesses are doing these days, so I can understand the NFL's position ideologically. I'm just surprised that it's a major sticking point because the amount of money involved (I heard it's around $3 million) is so insignificant compared to the billions of dollars that the NFL makes.


It's a principal, too. If refs get defined benefit pensions, then everyone else (assistant coaches, perhaps) will argue for one also, plus NFL front office types (who I believe don't currently have one).

Defined benefit pensions are financial suicide. IMHO they should be made illegal as they put every company and (more importantly) government agency that has employees with one (all of them, in the case of government) at extreme risk of financial collapse.

[WV]

Should a business base the salary of its employees on the number of hours worked in a year or on the value added by the employee?

Break down their salary per game and I would certainly think they are very well compensated.