Today in Labor History July 31 NFL Players went on their first strike, Great Shipyard Strike of 1999

[Omaha Steve]

July 31

Members of the National Football League Players Association begin what is to be a two-day strike, their first. The issues: pay, pensions, the right to arbitration and the right to have agents - 1970

And this: July 31, 1970 - Members of the National Football League Players Association went on strike. Pay, pensions, the right to arbitration and the right to have agents were all key issues in the walkout. Although the strike lasted only two days, the NFLPA marks the event as the milestone that made the organization a real union. Read more at the NFLPA website, http://www.nflpa.org/AboutUs/NFLPA_History.aspx#6

Fifty-day baseball strike ends - 1981

The Great Shipyard Strike of 1999 ends after Steelworkers at Newport News Shipbuilding ratify a breakthrough agreement which nearly doubles pensions, increases security, ends inequality, and provides the highest wage increases in company and industry history to nearly 10,000 workers at the yard. The strike lasted 15 weeks - 1999

Labor history found here: http://www.unionist.com/big-labor/today-in-labor-history & here: http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?history_9_07_31_2011

[hfojvt]

1. solidarity

Still looking for the solidarity in this. All three of those groups would seem to be on the gravy train. They got their gravy. How have they shown any solidarity with the rest of us?

[Omaha Steve]

2. Former Packer great Gilbert Brown picketed last Fall for the UFCW

First thing to come to my mind. Gilbert's dad was a UFCW meat packer when Gilbert was growing up.

Several Packers were at the rallies in Madison earlier this year. Many that didn't contributed $.

NFL players have helped us little guys by pledging not to cross picket lines of unions around the stadiums they play in. That has helped the SEIU and others get fair contracts for a part time seasonal job.

The press just doesn't cover these acts of solidarity.

OS

[hfojvt]

3. plenty of examples on non-solidarity too

http://homesoftherich.net/2009/04/a-look-at-texas-mansions.html Deion Sanders' mansion, for example.

http://heraldbanner.com/real_estate_news/x1625123094/Ex-Seahawks-Star-Walter-Jones-Lists-Bama-Mansion-Complete-With-Football-Field

Walter Jones' mansion.

http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/tomy_brady_building_a_mega_mansion/4518102

Tom Brady's mega mansion

I'm not seeing a lot of solidarity between those million dollar houses and my own $13,000 a year salary and a few players making some donations doesn't really unite us. Opting to not cross picket lines doesn't do much for the un-unionized or the unemployed.

I just hate seeing multi-millionaires used as an example of "labor history" like they are just like us factory workers.

Although in the 1970s many of them were not making very much money.