Part 4/7:
Collective Bargaining Agreement Nuances
A major takeaway from the conversation is that any economic changes necessitate the agreement of both parties—the owners and the players’ union. Salary caps and revenue-sharing models are stipulated in the CBA every five years, and the players’ union is resolute against losing any ground they have fought for historically. Drelich emphasized that while players could receive concessions such as earlier free agency and arbitration, the long-term implications of instituting a cap could diminish their collective bargaining power, creating a dynamic of constant regression over future negotiations.