This lawsuit should be settled between the players union and the NFL, with the NFL agreeing to cut Vilma's suspension in half as a compromise. Carrying this bitter debate out in a public display of acrimony would not serve the NFL or the players well.
What are the benefits of joining a union? Union members are allowed to negotiate on "…pay standards, benefits, and safety and security issues (Hamlett, 2010). Also, if there is unfairness in pay or working conditions, unions can legally go on strike. As to unionization, the NLRA authorizes workers to legally attend meetings held by union leaders hoping to set up a union. The passing out of pro-union literature (including petitions) can be done on the worksite during breaks or at lunchtime. Section 7 of the NLRA says that employees have the right to "…self-organization, to form, join, or bargain collectively through representation of their own choosing…" and the collective bargaining process is basically a series of meetings between union executives (with representatives from the workers) and management. Both sides present their wants and wishes (or demands) and the negotiation proceeds. If there is no agreement...
With collective bargaining, these arbitrary actions are not possible.
Works Cited
Hamlett, Kenneth. (2010). How Do Labor Unions Work? Demand Media. Retrieved August
12, 2012, from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/labor-unions-work-2924.html.
National Football League Players Association. (2011). Frequently Asked Question / History.
Retrieved August 12, 2012, from http://www.nflplayers.com/about-us/FAQs/.
National Labor Relations Act. (2011). it's Your Right to Organize a Union! Retrieved August
12, 2012, from http://www.ueunion.org/org_rights.html.
Plaisance, Stacey. (2012). Judge does not rule in Saints LB Vilma lawsuit. ESPN. Retrieved
August 12, 2012, from http://espn.go.com.
