National Football League

NFL players union chief tells St. Paul fans, laborers that a lockout would hurt them, too

Published Oct. 20, 2010 10:17 a.m. ET

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Randy Moss and Sam the Plumber hardly give the impression of union brothers in arms, but the multimillionaire Vikings receiver and timecard-punching laborers in Minnesota are at risk of losing their paychecks next year if NFL owners lock out the players.

The leader of the NFL Players Association sought to galvanize support from organized labor and Vikings fans Tuesday during a rally at a St. Paul bar by calling a potential work stoppage a "lockout of America" that would cost thousands of workers their jobs and team-sponsoring cities more than $140 million in revenue.

DeMaurice Smith, flanked by the head of Minnesota AFL-CIO and trade workers wearing horns and purple-and-gold face paint, said NFL players are united with them in the desire to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement before the current deal expires March 1.

"You injure one, you injure us all," Smith said at the Eagle Street Grille. "We're going to stand as one with our fans. We're going to stand as one with the people who get their hands dirty and work to bring this game to every fan in America. We believe this lockout is not good for America. We know it's a bad thing for people who dig football as much as I do."

The NFLPA is sharpening its rhetoric against the league and holding rallies in NFL markets in the battle to win the hearts and minds not just of fans but also stadium vendors, parking attendants and service industry workers who could suffer if there are no games in 2011.

More than 100 trades would be affected by a lockout, according to Shar Knutson, president of the Minnesota AFL-CIO, the state's largest labor union.

"Concession workers. Food preparers. Security. Trade workers. Right off the bat, there will be thousands that depend on that work," she said. "But it's also important to remember beyond that, hotels, restaurants and businesses that cater to game folks, they also lose."

More than 1,900 players earning salaries ranging from $310,000 to $25 million belong to the NFLPA. The Vikings' 2010 payroll stands at $133 million.

Wages the average union worker and most NFL fans can only dream of earning are at the center of a dispute between well-compensated players and wealthy owners over how to share $8 billion in revenue. Why should the little guy care enough to choose sides?

"Yes, they probably are paid more than others. The time that they work is probably less. But the chance of injuries is much greater," Knutson said. "They won't be able to get health insurance in March. Even if you do make a good wage, there's something unfortunate about that.

"They're union members. We'll support them as union members. And just the fact that in this area the Vikings are so revered, people won't be happy with the bosses if they end up going into a lockout."

Smith attacked the NFL for threatening to cancel players' health insurance during a lockout while vowing this week to suspend players for dangerous hits.

"With all due respect, hits over this weekend have gotten more press coverage than the fact that 5,000 to 6,000 family members in the NFL stand to lose their health care in March," he said. "We've got several kids on kidney dialysis. We've got at least one who's in need of a heart transplant.

"While I would love to live in the world where I just react to something that happens on Sunday, I've got 1,900 players and another 5,000 family members with more at stake."

The NFL fired back Tuesday, disputing Smith's claim and scolding the union leader for playing loose with his facts.

"This is yet one more reason to get back to the bargaining table and get an agreement," league spokesman Greg Aiello said. "But there is no question that a strike or lockout triggers rights under a federal law known as COBRA that allows employees to continue their existing health insurance coverage without interruption or change in terms -- either at their expense or their union's expense.

"This means that no player or family member would experience any change in coverage for so much as a single day because of a work stoppage. The union surely knows this, and there is no excuse suggesting otherwise."

Aiello added that the NHL Players Association paid for substitute health coverage for its members during the 2004-05 lockout.

Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards, a late arrival to Tuesday's rally, said players are preparing to be locked out next season. Although players caved and eventually crossed picket lines during failed strikes in 1982 and 1987, Edwards vowed solidarity and said fans should sympathize with them -- no matter how long the next work stoppage lasts.

"We're the commodities. If we weren't playing, would there really be football?" Edwards said. "Would the owners go out there and play football themselves? I mean, that would be kind of a boring game. Take care of the guys that are making it happen for you."