Ongoing CBA discussions

Mediation huh. At least there will be a referee to call the personal fouls and keep score.

Im guessin its non-binding. Im guessin one side will walk away from the process. Im hoping the mediator is neutral.

At least this is something, at least it brings them back to the table but honestly it comes off as both sides needing a baby sitter imo.


Mediators do not "call fouls" or "keep score". What mediators do is to try to find common ground between the two sides and to get them to build on those things they can both agree on - - - until a full-blown CBA can happen.


THEN, the mediator has to HOPE LIKE HELL that the lawyers for both sides do not screw things up. Remember, those lawyers earn more money by keeping their clients very suspicious of everything that the other side thinks is a good idea and that is why eacn ahd every word of every sentence has to be argued over.

Getting both sides to agree to mediation is a positive step - - because it means they both agreed to something. But this is still a long way from over...

With both sides adhering to Federal Mediator Cohen's request to not speak with the media very little is known of the progress. Jets' Richardson today however did comment that talks were "going well". We can only hope that this issue is resolved sooner than later and with about 25 hours of talks since Friday I'm cautiously optimistic.

So, if a big sticking point is the opening of the books, and the lack of trust that goes with that, does anyone know the answer to this:

Can the federal mediator offer to be a go between. In other words can the nflpa ask him to look at the books for with their questions in mind and then evaluate the books (assuming the owners are willing to show them to a neutral 3rd party) and present relevant answers? Or is that more detail and hands on then a federal mediator?

Any chance BA can save the day?

Rich_Campbell Rich Campbell
Lockout averted in 3, 2, 1... RT @AlbertBreer: Another interesting name that just walked through those doors: Redskins GM Bruce Allen.

Sam Farmer has a very good column in today's LA Times that gives a brief and understandable overview of the labor talks between the union and the league.

Recommend it as a sort of tutorial on what is going on...


When talking NFL labor negotiations, a primer comes in handy - latimes.com (http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-nfl-labor-20110222,0,7150073.story)

Sally Jenkins - No matter what happens in NFL labor negotiations, the players pay the price (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/23/AR2011022305999.html)

AlbertBreer

Cohen in statement: "Some progress was made, but very strong differences remain on the all-important core issues that separate the parties. ...(Cohen cont): "... Nonetheless, I have recommended and the parties have agreed to resume the mediation process in my office ... March 1."
2 minutes ago

7 days and this is what you get

CRedskinsRule:

Do not be too dismayed by the statements of the mediator. Mediation is a process that is a complete failure until it becomes a total success. At the moment it is a complete failure - - but the two sides have not quit the process and the mediator is still willing to expend his good offices to try to bring them together. So there is a light at the end of the tunnel - - even though it may be a gorilla with a flashlight.

That means the process is still working - - even though it is a complete failure to this point.

My gut tells me that mediation at this point is not going to work and that the CBA will expire before there is a new agreement. [They may agree to an extension of the current CBA to be sure, but I really doubt there will be a new CBA by 4 March] However, this mediation process - - even if it does not create a new CBA making it a complete failure - - COULD set the stage for a future mediation that will create the new CBA sometime down the road.

Yes, I have done some mediation work in the past - - although nothing nearly as big or as public as this mediation. I think about what the mediator is going through and thank my lucky stars that he and I cannot trade places.

Nothing happens until the final hour is approaching. I would bet on them extending the deadline out a week or two.

Mediators do not "call fouls" or "keep score". What mediators do is to try to find common ground between the two sides and to get them to build on those things they can both agree on - - - until a full-blown CBA can happen.


..

I know, I do 2-3 mediations a month in DC (as an atty, not med). My point was, using loose language, that they need(ed) to bring a neutral party for an airrance of grievances since I assume each side thought they were talking to deaf ears. Just didnt feel like going all lawyer talk on a football message board.