NFL Referee Lockout
Gerardo Coronado
Professor Hinderacker
Negotiation

The NFL (National Football League) has currently locked-out the NFL Referees’ Association from officiating football games until they can negotiate and agree on a new collective bargaining agreement. The dispute is of course concerning money and both parties wanting more than their fair share of the pie. Both parties are and have not been able to see eye to eye, which is making the negotiations even tougher. This paper will provide a brief background of the dispute and will also analyze the negotiation from each participant’s side over the span of the ongoing ten-month negotiation.
The NFL Referees’ Association attempted to contact the NFL in March of 2010 to begin negotiations, but the NFL offices never responded to those attempts. Negotiations between both parties officially began in October of 2011. Seven months before the Referees’ collective bargaining agreement expired on May 31st 2012. Negotiations between the two groups are currently still at a stand still. According to Mike Arnold, the lead negotiator for the NFL Referees’ Association, “their (NFL’s) view seems to be, ‘if this thing’s going to settle, it’s going to settle on our terms’”(Waldron). Arnold also stated, “They locked us out. We’ve been serious, made major concessions, and have been willing to negotiate. But all they’ve told us is to take it or leave it.” He also added, “It takes two sides to negotiate. We’re prepared, we’re ready to go” (Waldron). The NFL has refused to return to the negotiation table and instead has relegated to using replacement referees’ this season. The replacement referees’ have already drawn plenty of criticism just one week into the regular season.
As I stated the main issue in the negotiation is money. In the past the NFL Referees’ Association has received pay raises during collective