More than 100 NFL players, including most of the Washington Redskins, are facing suspension from this weekend's games because of their refusal to pay $5,000 membership dues to the Players Association.
In accordance with the collective bargaining agreement reached earlier this year, the league's Management Council notified teams the players have until tomorrow to pay their dues or a service fee if they don't join the union.If they ignore the deadline, the labor agreement requires that the players be suspended without pay if the NLPA requests suspensions.
NFLPA assistant director Doug Allen said that no compromise is possible; either the players pay the $5,000 or they don't and are subject to indefinite suspension.
Some members of the Redskins appear to be adamant about not paying.
"We're not paying it," a player who declined to be identified told the newspaper. "That's the bottom line. This isn't a good deal for us. ... Our feelings won't change."
Teams from Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Georgia and Arizona aren't impacted because right-to-work laws prevent unions from forcing employees to join as part of an employment agreement.