'82 Chronology-Strike Strategy?

Event Date: October 26th, 1982

Event Description: Strike Threatens NFL Season

Source: United Press International

With the possibility growing that the NFL players' strike could wipe out the season, indications surfaced Tuesday that the club owners may appeal to the union's rank-and-file in an attempt to settle the more than 5-week-old walkout.

A member of the NFL Management Council's executive committee suggested the owners might have to "go over the heads" of union leaders and appeal to the membership for a contract agreement.

In Washington, Ed Garvey, executive director of the NFL Players Association, warned players that the owners are threatening to cancel the season if the players reject a final contract proposal.

Garvey said the owners are contacting the player representatives and saying they will make a 'take it or leave it' offer Friday.

“They are trying to convince the players and the public that if the players do not accept, they will cancel the season in 24 hours,” said Garvey, also contending the owners would lose too much money and expose themselves to legal action if they canceled the season.

Before the news conference, union president Gene Upshaw met with a lawyer for the National Labor Relations Board. Garvey said the NLRB could order an injunction forcing the NFL Management Council to discuss the wage scale issue, the major stumbling block in the 36-day strike.

“There is a growing feeling among our people that the NFL is trying to back into the USFL season.” Garvey said. “They can kill two birds with one stone.” The fledgling United States Football League plans to play its season in late spring and early summer. Murphy said if the season is canceled “it would immediately make the USFL a stronger league.”

If the owners canceled the season, Garvey said they could be ordered to pay back-wages to all striking players and run the risk of all players becoming free agents.

(Story-UPI)