What
is the Women’s National Basketball Players
Association?
The WNBPA is the union that represents all WNBA
players.
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I know that the WNBPA is a union. What does that
mean?
A union is comprised of a group of employees who
collectively try to improve wages, benefits and
working conditions. Because it is a professional
sports union, the WNBPA addresses all of the issues
typically dealt with by traditional labor unions
such as the United Auto Workers or the United
Federation of Teachers.
We also assist players in a number of other significant
areas. Thus, once a collective bargaining agreement
is signed, the WNBPA focuses on, among other things,
ensuring that players (and their agents) understand
the collective bargaining agreement so that they
can maximize their opportunities under the technical
rules of the agreement, administering the players’
group licensing payments, providing player programs
and placing players in the best position for the
next round of collective bargaining.
The union helps any player who has virtually any
type of problem or dispute with management, (i.e.,
the WNBA and/or her team), often through the grievance
procedure.
We also regulate all player agents.
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What is the grievance procedure?
The grievance procedure is the mechanism through
which conflicts between players and management
get resolved. Basically, it works as follows:
• A player has been fined or suspended and
she thinks the discipline is unfair, excessive
or unwarranted: or,
• Her team or the league has taken some
action that she disagrees with, either involving
her contract, negotiations for a new contract,
or any other aspect of her employment.
She then either informs her player representative,
who in turn notifies us of the issue, or she calls
us directly. We then contact the team or league
and attempt to resolve the problem. If it cannot
be resolved at that level, we will bring the issue
before a neutral arbitrator.
We represent the player at the arbitration hearing
at no cost.
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What is a player representative?
A player representative is like a congressman:
she votes on policy issues, and also serves as
a liaison between the union and her teammates,
often communicating messages and news from the
union. She is elected by her teammates to serve
for a one-year term.
We count on the player representatives to notify
us of problems or any potential abuses of players
by the teams, league management or agents.
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Who are each team’s player representatives?
In this package of materials, we have enclosed
a list of this season’s player representatives
for each team.
During training camp, each team will conduct an
election to determine who will serve as the team’s
player representatives.
Click here for a
list of this season’s player representatives
for each team.
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What
is the Executive Committee and who sits on it?
The Executive Committee consists of six players,
elected by the player representatives to make
certain decisions regarding the operations of
the union.
The Committee consists of a President, First Vice
President, two Vice Presidents and a Secretary-Treasurer.
The players who currently hold these positions
are listed on this site.
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Who
negotiates the collective bargaining agreement?
The WNBA and the WNBPA negotiate the collective
bargaining agreement. NBA and WNBA representatives
(the president, various owners, the WNBA’s
attorneys and financial experts) attempt to get
the best deal possible for the owners.
On the other side, the WNBPA’s staff, and
player representatives, including the Executive
Committee and a Negotiating Committee (comprised
of WNBA players representing all levels of income
and seniority within the league), represent the
players.
Our goal is simple - to get the best deal possible
for all players.
We welcome and encourage all players to attend
as many bargaining sessions as possible.
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What
kind of say do players get in the collective bargaining
agreement?
As a democratic organization, during bargaining,
we frequently solicit all players’ viewpoints
and apprise them of the status of negotiations.
We also encourage players to call whenever they
have questions and/or to make their opinion known.
The WNBPA provides frequent written updates on
the status of negotiations and we have team and
"all player" conference calls.
Ultimately, all players vote on whether to accept
a collective bargaining agreement.
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How
democratic is the WNBPA?
It could not be more democratic.
A majority of players decide what they want in
the collective bargaining agreement.
A majority of players decide who their player
representatives will be.
A majority of players must vote to ratify the
collective bargaining agreement.
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I
am certified with another players association
to represent athletes in that sport; do I have
to register with the WNBPA in order to represent
WNBA players?
Representation of WNBA players outside of the
United States or certification with any other
players association (i.e., the NBPA) does not
constitute automatic WNBPA certification. All
interested parties must follow the application
procedures in order to be considered for certification.
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