Athletes’ rights behind union solidarity
WASHINGTON, D.C. Leaders from the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB players associations helped unveil a universal declaration of player rights that is designed to establish a new approach to governing sports and protecting athletes.
Among the 17 articles laid out in the declaration are rights to unionize and collectively bargain, express opinions freely and receive equal pay for equal work. The declaration was made Thursday by the World Players Association, which is affiliated with 100 organizations representing 85,000 pro athletes.
“It will change the content and the terms under which sport is regulated,” said Brandon Schwab, the association’s executive director. “And secondly it will change the culture of sport. Sport must now be run in partnership with the players and sport must act proactively to prevent and minimize and address any adverse human rights impacts.”
Executive directors DeMaurice Smith of the NFL Players Association, Michele Roberts of the National Basketball Players Association, Don Fehr of the NHL Players’ Association and Tony Clark of the Major League Baseball Players Association are part of the group of more than 100 unions that released the declaration.
“The importance of the declaration is actually philosophically bigger than just the issue of collective bargaining,” Smith said as the NFLPA hosted the gathering of 40 union representatives. “It’s reminding everyone that where we start in this process is the men and women who play sports did not choose to give up the basic human rights that we would want for every worker.”
The launch of the universal declaration of player rights comes on the heels of Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players kneeling or sitting during the national anthem to protest racial inequality and police brutality. Roberts said she and members of the NBPA “full-throatedly support” the declaration that seeks to provide athletes worldwide with the type of constitutional protections that exist in the U.S.