Contests in skill, strength and speed have occupied an important place in every culture throughout the ages. The meaning of the term sport and the effect that sport has on society is always changing. Sports have especially changed in the last two decades and can certainly be evidence by the growing number of labor disputes and court cases involving all sports.Labor relations did not play a dominant role in professional sports until the early 1970s. Prior to unions and collective bargaining, professional athletes were treated like privileged peons. Today sport is more career and business than avocation and pastime. Today professional players pursue their playing careers as businesses. And agents and unions have helped to complicate a once very simple, but one-sided, labor situation.The principal objective of the sports union is to promote its effectiveness in collective bargaining. In achieving its objectives, the union engages in the following activities: (1) organizing its membership for solidarity; (2) negotiating contracts applicable to all players; (3) enforces the terms of the negotiated agreement through the grievance procedure; and (4) serves an internal governmental function in conducting meetings, voting on contracts negotiated and providing other means of communication to members. Workers involved in interstate commerce, which includes professional team sports, are covered by the National Labor Relations Act, as amended. Section 7 of this law provides three basic rights: (1) the right to self-organize, to form, join or assist labor organizations; (2) the right to bargain collectively through representatives; and (3) the right to engage in activities for employees aid or protection (use pressure tactics). Section 8 of this law concerns unfair labor practices of employers, i.e., an employer cannot interfere, restrain or coerce an employee not to organize, form or join a labor organization. Specifically, secti...
