Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 15, 1994 TAG: 9412150057
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RYE BROOK, N.Y. LENGTH: Medium
The effort by the owners to overturn the game's financial structure that has existed since free agency began 19 years ago likely will lead to a lengthy legal battle.
``We remain deadlocked at this time over the central issue of cost control,'' said John Harrington, the chief negotiator for the owners, after talks broke down Wednesday. ``The union has refused to make any proposal on the critical issue of linking player costs to growth revenue.''
Asked if the owners' negotiating committee would advise owners to implement the salary cap when they meet today in Chicago, Harrington replied: ``We will be making a recommendation along that line.''
Donald Fehr, the head of the union, said the players made numerous attempts to find a way to bridge the differences in the four-month-old dispute, but owners found them unacceptable.
``It becomes apparent that, at least for now, there is no agreement to be found,'' Fehr said.
Harrington had said that unless an agreement was reached by today, owners would impose a salary cap. The move would be challenged before the National Labor Relations Board, union lawyer Doyle Pryor said.
``We haven't reached the end of the road yet,'' said federal mediator W.J. Usery. ``I still have a dispute to mediate. We simply ran out of time in this case.''
Last week, Usery urged the owners not to implement the salary cap because it would make his job of forging an agreement more difficult. This time he made no such plea.
``That is a decision for the ownership to do,'' Usery said of imposing the salary cap. ``Even if they implement, they still have to reach an agreement.''
Players went on strike Aug.12 to try to force an agreement and avoid an imposed cap. On Sept.15, the owners canceled the rest of the regular season and the postseason.
Despite lengthy bargaining sessions the past five days - including two that went past midnight - the sides were unable to find a solution that gave owners the cost certainty they wanted and gave players the open market they vowed to preserve.
The breakdown in negotiations came a little more than two months before the start of spring training.
The union is expected to challenge an imposed salary cap before the NLRB, leading to months of litigation and the possibility that teams would open the 1995 season with replacement players.
``Players will go back on the field when a proper collective bargaining agreement is reached. There's no doubt about that,'' Fehr said. ``There's no doubt that before then, they won't ... ''
by CNB