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United Football League Players Association

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United Football League Players Association
AbbreviationUFLPA
Founded2022
TypeLabor union
Legal status501(c)(5) organization
HeadquartersArlington, Texas, U.S.
Location
  • United States
Membership400 (active members in bargaining unit) (2023)
Key people
AffiliationsUnited Steelworkers

The United Football League Players Association (UFLPA) , or "USW Local 9004", is a local union representing United Football League (UFL) players. USW Local 9004 is the first local to be issued a charter by United Steelworkers for representation in a professional sports league.[1] The UFLPA, which has headquarters in Arlington, Texas was established to ensure protection of player rights, establish fair working conditions for active members, and provide players with formal representation to negotiate the terms of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The players' union was adopted following the merger of the latest incarnations of the XFL and United States Football League (USFL).[2] The United Football League (UFL) recognized the UFLPA alongside United Steelworkers as the exclusive bargaining representative of UFL players.[3] The adopted USFL - USW collective bargaining agreement (CBA) was renegotiated to ensure continuity of labor relations between the league and players, as the merger officially transitions two eight-team leagues into one eight-team league for the 2024 season.[4]

Organizing History

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The former USFLPA welcomed a petition filed by the United Steelworkers to represent all USFL players, including those suspended, on the injured reserve, or physically unable to perform list.[5] In an election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board, on June 6, 2022, USFL players voted in favor of union representation.[6] The USFLPA was initially formed due to an affiliation between the United Steelworkers and pro football players advocacy group United Football Players Association.[7] The United Steelworkers terminated this agreement[8] before the USFL-XFL league merger would commence.[9] The former USFL players' union would be adopted by the newly formed United Football League (UFL) to merge both former XFL and USFL players under one union, the UFLPA. For the inaugural season, the UFL will become the first spring football league to have players represented by an established labor union at the start of league operation.[10]

Collective Bargaining Agreements

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First CBA (2023)

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After tentatively agreeing to terms in December 2022, on January 9, 2023, union-represented players and USFL signed the first-ever collective bargaining agreement (CBA) covering USFL players for the 2023 season to the 2024 season inclusively.[11] The ratified agreement increased minimum salaries for active and inactive players, provided a weekly housing stipend, established 401(k) contributions from USFL, and guaranteed health insurance benefits. In addition, the CBA provides enhanced medical provisions and a guaranteed injured reserve clause.[12]

Union Recognition and CBA Adoption (2024)

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The United Football League (UFL) adopted the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the United States Football League (USFL) and the United Steelworkers as modified by the Memorandum of Agreement entered into by the USFL and USW on January 3, 2024.[13] The renegotiated CBA will now cover UFL players for the 2024 season inclusively.

Union Leadership

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The current president of the UFLPA is Dartez Jacobs and the Vice President is Devin Gray. As of 2023, the executive committee consists of the following current UFL player representatives: Kristjan Sokoli, Jonathan Newsome, Vad Lee, Boogie Roberts, Chris Rowland, Brandon Wright, Bo Scarbrough, and Josh Love.[14] UFLPA officers are responsible for overseeing the business affairs of the local union, negotiating terms of the CBA, securing amendments to enforce player protection, and protecting the image of players and their profession.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "USFL Players Represented By United Steelworkers Union". America’s Work Force (AWF). Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  2. ^ "UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE ("UFL") SET TO LAUNCH AS THE PREMIER SPRING FOOTBALL LEAGUE". theufl.com (Press release). December 31, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  3. ^ "United Football League Recognition of United Steelworkers (USW Local 9004) and Adoption of USFL- USW Collective Bargaining Agreement" (PDF). usw.org (Press release). January 26, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  4. ^ "UFL Launches UFLPA: New Era of Player Representation, Adopts USFL-USW CBA". uflnewshub.com. January 26, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  5. ^ "New USFL is only a few weeks old, but a union is already in the works". TheAthletic. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  6. ^ "USFL Players Choose Union Representation". usw.org. June 7, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  7. ^ "United Steelworkers Affiliates With Pro Football Players Advocacy Group". Sportico. February 3, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  8. ^ @TheUFLPA (December 28, 2023). "Union Statement on UFPA Termination" (Tweet). Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Twitter.
  9. ^ "UFPA And The United Steelworkers Drop Partnership As XFL-USFL Merger Looms". XFLnewshub. December 30, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  10. ^ "United Football League Players Tap United Steelworkers as CBA Rep". Sportico. January 26, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  11. ^ "Players Ratify First Contract with USFL". usw.org. January 9, 2023.
  12. ^ "USFL Players Association Vote to Pass CBA, Details Of Agreement". usflnewshub.com. January 10, 2023.
  13. ^ "The United Steelworkers (USW) have received recognition as the exclusive bargaining representative of UFL players". uflboard.com. January 27, 2024.
  14. ^ "USFLPA Names Exec Committee". Sportico. May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
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