National Football League

Bills start pay cuts during NFL labor dispute

Published Mar. 16, 2011 3:18 p.m. ET

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All Buffalo Bills employees will take a cut in pay during the NFL labor dispute, though no layoffs are planned.

Referring to them as ''prudent preparations for the possibility of a work stoppage,'' chief operating officer Russ Brandon said Wednesday the Bills have established a program of cuts that ''focuses on shared sacrifice.'' The comments were made in a statement released by the team to The Associated Press.

''We have, for some time, been very upfront and transparent with our staff so that they too could make prudent preparations,'' Brandon said. ''Every employee in the organization will be affected.''

The percentage of the cut will be based on salary, with the highest-paid employees receiving a larger cut in pay.

''We plan no layoffs as a result of the situation at this time,'' Brandon said. ''Our hope is that our advanced planning will allow us to avoid them in the future as well.''

The Buffalo News first reported the team's pay cuts on Wednesday.

The announcement of pay cuts comes two days after the team sent a letter to its season-ticket holders in which Brandon said the Bills will continue their daily business operations in preparing for the season.

Brandon wrote that he shared fans' disappointment regarding the work stoppage, which began Friday after the NFL Players Association decertified. The NFL followed by locking out its players.

The Bills are coming off a 4-12 finish and will have the No. 3 pick in the draft next month.

NFL teams have varied in establishing employee plans during the work stoppage. Some teams have announced pay cuts, while others are having staff take unpaid furloughs. Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Isray said this week that his employees will not be affected.

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