There is a reason why the issue of union solidarity tends to rise to the fore in coverage of NBA labor-management disputes.
The National Basketball Players Association, which has been in a state of virtually constant discord since the retirement of Larry Fleisher, has formally requested the resignation of union president Derek Fisher.
The NBPA executive committee voted 8-0 Wednesday to request Fisher’s resignation, citing “numerous instances … where Fisher engaged in conduct detrimental to the union” (insidehoops.com, 4/20/12).
Sports Illustrated reported Friday that Fisher has denied the NBPA request, and that NBPA executive director Billy Hunter “is organizing a conference call of the union’s team representatives to have Fisher voted out” (4/20/12).
Such discord is nothing new to the NBPA. The union’s first executive director (the position was created after Fleisher’s 1988 retirement) Charles Grantham was a controversial selection among some in the union and resigned under pressure in 1995. He was replaced by Simon Gourdine, a former NBA deputy commissioner whose lack of communication with players — and perceived cozy relationship with David Stern — in part led to a faction of players seeking to decertify the union during CBA talks the same year.
Especially since 1995, one of the primary tactics the NBA has used in negotiations is to attempt to fracture the union by suggesting that union leaders and agents do not have the best interests of players at heart. With stories like this, it is little wonder why that strategy has been so successful.
(NBPA release from insidehoops.com, with additional information from Sports Illustrated)
