NEW YORK (AP) — WNBA players union leaders held a meeting with players Tuesday night and will send a questionnaire to its members to get feedback on the league’s latest contract proposal, a person familiar with the matter said.
The league and players have been unable to reach a new collective bargaining agreement since the union opted out of the previous agreement that expired last year. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday night because details of the meeting have not been released to the public.
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The union last sent an inquiry to players in December when it was seeking a vote to authorize the seven-member player executive committee to call a strike if needed, according to people familiar with the matter.
The AP obtained a letter to union executive director Terry Carmichael Jackson in which 10 prominent WNBA player agents offered to help the union with its investigation and asked for “transparent and coordinated communications, rather than individual conversations. At this stage of negotiations, time is of the essence and coordination and shared information will best serve the players and the league.”
Front Office Sports first reported Tuesday’s players meeting.
The WNBA told the union in a virtual bargaining session on Monday that a deal needs to be reached by March 10 to start the season on time, another person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Monday because of the sensitivity of the negotiations.
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Player agents are asking for a review of the league’s current proposals for a new collective bargaining agreement, subject to signing a confidentiality agreement and offering to help with the investigation so they can “emphasize the importance of participation and encourage our clients to respond in a timely manner.”
“It’s important to note that unity among agents is at an unprecedented level right now,” the letter said. “This alignment reflects our shared commitment to doing what’s best for the long-term health of our players and the league. We believe that this same spirit of collaboration, leveraging all available expertise and resources, is how we can continue to work together as a team.”
Agents said the union would get a better response if the survey was sent via text message instead of email. The agent also asked for clarification on how the results would be tabulated.
“Transparency in this process will drive engagement and help ensure coordination and trust among stakeholders,” the letter said.
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If a collective bargaining agreement is agreed upon before March 10, it is likely to be signed by the end of this month. Expansion drafts for new franchises in Portland and Toronto will be held sometime between April 1 and 6, according to a schedule obtained by The Associated Press.
Free agent qualifying offers, including the franchise player tag, will be sent out on April 7-8. Teams will then have three days to negotiate with more than 80 percent of their free agents. The signing period is from April 12th to 18th.
Training camps will open the next day and the season will begin on May 8.
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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba
