Labor law requires employers to collectively bargain with employees represented by unions on three mandatory terms: Wages, hours, and conditions of employment. Outside of the three mandatory terms of collective bargaining, employers and employees’ union representatives are free to collectively bargain on other items as they agree. The world of sports provides wide-ranging examples of how the collective bargaining process unfolds. In some instances, it is contentious. In others, it is a smooth, easy process. This Assignment will look at strategies employed by various leagues in the collective bargaining process to determine which side—employers or employees—received the best end of the negotiations.
Instructions
Select one of the following leagues: the MLB, NBA, or NHL. Research that league’s most recent round of collective bargaining with their players’ respective union. Examine the negotiations and identify what each side obtained under the new collective bargaining agreement. Consider which side you believe received the better deal and why.