Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 24, 1993 TAG: 9312240155
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Suspensions for more than 100 NFL players, including most of the Washington Redskins, could be coming if they don't pay dues or a service fee to the players' union.
The NFL's Management Council notified 19 teams and 194 players Tuesday that, according to the collective bargaining agreement reached this year, the players have until today to pay the $5,000 dues or a service fee of that amount to the union.
Any players failing to comply would be subject to indefinite suspension "if the players' union follows through on this," NFL spokesman Joe Browne said Thursday.
Doug Allen, assistant director of the NFL Players Association, said reports of 194 players facing suspension were exaggerated. But he emphasized that every NFL player is part of the labor deal.
"Everyone in the league gets the benefits of the CBA, everything in the agreement is available," Allen said. "You can't pick and choose whether they get it or not if they do not join the union. It's fair to require everyone to pay their fair share."
The NFL and the union ended five years of labor problems in the spring. The Redskins have been one of the most vocal dissenters, saying they had too little input in the deal and the salary cap will cost many of them jobs. They also objected when their dues were increased from around $2,000 annually to $5,000.
Three Redskins - safety Brad Edwards, linebacker Monte Coleman and tight end Terry Orr - said Thursday they would not pay the dues. The Redskins, however, said they would not suspend them.
"Our position is that Virginia is a right-to-work state and therefore we're not going to suspend any players," said Charley Casserly, the Redskins' general manager.
Players had until Dec. 10 to pay their dues or sign a dues authorization slip.
by CNB