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NFL 1968 Strike
Six months after the NFLPA declared itself as union, teams felt that they were not being compensated for and voted to strike. NFL owners countered by locking out players during training camp. The result of this lockout created pension benefits and the first collective bargaining agreement. Despite the pension benefits, players asked for more and owners agreed to contribute $1.5 million to the pension fund. Minimum salaries of $9 K for rookies, $10 K for veterans, and $50 per exhibition. -
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1972 MLB Strike
This was the first time in MLB history that the players went on strike. The primary reason for going on strike was due to the players wanting an increase to their pension. The strike lasted 13 days and 86 games were lost and not made up. The team owners finally caved and met the pension demands of the Player's Association, after realizing they were losing more money in attendance during the strike. -
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1974 NFL Strike
NFLPA challenged the "Rozelle-Rule" as a violation of antitrust laws. Allowed the commissioner to compensate a team that lost a free agent if the signing team and player could not agree on a compensation. The rule limited players moving teams because owners didn't want to hire high-profile free agents. Players also demanded the elimination of the option clause and elimination of the draft and waiver system, rather than contracts. Players ended up returning to training camp without a new CBA. -
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1973 MLB Lockout
MLB owners lock out players due to a dispute over the salary arbitration process. The lockout ended with the agreement of a three-year CBA that clearly defined the salary arbitration process. As a result of this lockout, no regular season games were lost, except 86 Spring Training games were not played. -
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1976 MLB Lockout
The players and owners were once again having a dispute regarding free agency. In December of 1975, Marvin Miller found a weakness in the MLB reserve clause, resulting in pitchers Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally becoming free agents. The owners, angry over the way free agency was going, ultimately locked out players for the first couple weeks of Spring training, no regular games were lost. In July of 1976, a four year agreement was reached that outlined better parameters for free agency. -
NBA playoff referee strike - Creation of the NABR
NBA referees strike for two weeks with demands of a CBA under the newly created National Association of Basketball Referees. Their demands are ignored until critics of replacement refs become too significant. A CBA including pay-raise is signed under the conditions that both parties drop current legal actions. -
1980 MLB Strike
The MLB players go on strike for the final eight days of Spring Training, again over their issues with free agency. The players threatened to go on strike again if there wasn't new agreement by May 23rd. The players and owners reached a preliminary four year agreement, but the issues of free agency could be reopened for the next season. -
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1981 MLB Strike
This was due to a disagreement over free agency, owners wanted compensation for losing their players in free agency. After 712 cancelled games, both sides finally reached a contract agreement through 1984. They agreed that teams losing a "premium" player to free agency could be compensated by selecting an unprotected player from another club. The strike caused the All Star Game to be moved to August and playoff teams were decided by first-half and second-half division championships. -
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1982 NFL Strike
NFLPA demanded wage scale was based off of % of gross revenues (55% rather than 50%). Very few games were played and star players did not want to play because of the issue. Two all-star games were promoted but there was a lack of attendance and only nine games were played. In the end, a new 5-year agreement was implemented where players had an increased salary and post-season pay, and bonuses based on # of years of experience. In addition, the NFLPA received a copy of all players' contracts. -
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1985 MLB Strike
This was an in-season strike in which all 25 games were missed, but they were eventually all made up before the end of the season. The strike was a result of the players' issues with the pension fund and salary arbitration. Both sides reached a contract agreement through 1989, with the owners agreeing to add $33 million to the pension for each of the next three years and $39 million in 1989, and also raising the minimum salary for players from $40,000 to $60,000. -
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1987 NFL Strike
NFLPA went on strike because the CBA was expiring and pressed on the issue of free agency. Players who refused to play were replaced with players who were cut and the NFL saw a dip in TV viewership and attendance. With the quick movement by NFL owners, a new CBA agreement was not implemented and the strike ended. -
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1990 MLB Lockout
This was another dispute over free agency and salary arbitration. The owners wanted to set up a pay-for-performance scale for players with less than six years of service and were pushing for a salary cap and revenue sharing. Most of Spring Training was missed and Opening Day was pushed back a week, but the full season was still played. As a result of the lockout, the players' minimum salaries rose to $100,000. -
1992 NHL Players Strike
Nearing the end of the regular season, the NHL players banded together and voted to strike to demand a new collective bargaining agreement. The players vote to strike was astonishing at 560 to 4 in favor of a strike. At the next game, players walked off the ice and refused to play. Ten days later, an agreement was reached that extended the regular season and included benefits for free agency and licensing. The last walkout in the NHL occurred in 1924 and the team was fined and sold soon after. -
First NHL Referee lockout
The benefits and 60% raise demands of NHL referees lead to the leagues first lockout. The NHL Officials' Association is widely supported by other league officials across the continent who refuse to replace the strikers. The NHL is forced to concede many of the demands in a new CBA. -
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1994-1995 MLB Strike
The longest work stoppage in MLB history, only 144 regular season games were played, playoffs were missed, and the World Series wasn't played for the first time since 1904. Owners wanted a salary cap and revenue sharing, and players wouldn't have it. They went on strike and caused some teams to use replacement players. The strike ended when judge Sonia Sotomayor issued a preliminary injunction against the owners. No salary cap was ever agreed on but a revenue sharing system was implemented. -
80 game umpire lockout
Fallowing the players strike in 1994, the MLB umpires were locked out and replaced until a new CBA was signed 80 games later. -
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1995 NBA Lockout
NBA players reject the collective bargaining agreement saying that they were not given a fair representation. The lockout lasted 80 days and was solely based on the players' dissatisfaction with the union and their salaries. The players eventually came to an agreement with the owners which was then accepted by the players union leading to a new 6-year collective bargaining agreement. -
1996 NBA Lockout
The second NBA lockout only lasted a few hours and was focused on how to divide $50 million in TV revenue. An agreement was quickly agreed upon between the players and owners and a new collective bargaining agreement was announced days later that would last until 2001. -
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1998-99 NBA Lockout
This third NBA Lockout was the first to stop play in the NBA. The owners locked out the players over the collective bargaining agreement. The owners wanted a cap for top paid players as well as more revenue sharing where the players were pretty happy with the contract but wanted an increase to the league minimum. The owners got a swing in their favor when an arbitrator said the players did not have to be paid their guaranteed contracts during the lockout. In the end, the owners won the deal. -
MLB Umpire resignations
The league's officials opted to offer their resignation letters unless conditions were met. However, the league rather chose to accept resignations. The umpires attempted to retract their resignation after their bluff was called, but were only rehired in minority and on a first come first served basis. Indeed, the league had already filled most positions with alternate leagues’ umpires. The incident led to the end of the Major League Umpire Association. -
2004-05 NHL Season Not Played
Nearing the start of the 2004-05 NHL season, NHLPA Exec. Director Bob Goodenow and Commissioner Gary Bettman held secret meetings over the course of months in an attempt to update the current collective bargaining agreement. Offers of a rollback on players' salaries were denied by the league in fear of a salary cap. After much dispute and compromises on both ends, a salary cap was agreed upon but the value was still in dispute. The season was officially canceled on Feb. 16, 2005 by Gary Bettman. -
MLS Players' Union votes to strike
After failing to reach a CBA agreement with the MLS, the MLSPU votes to strike. The MLS concedes a new CBA before the start of the season. -
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2011 NFL Lockout
Longest work stoppage in the NFL. The NFL and NFLPA did not come to an agreement on the new CBA after its expiration in March. The NFLPA de-certified as a union and filed an antitrust suit with leading plaintiffs; Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees. U.S. court judge, Susan Nelson, favored the players but was appealed. Players could not practice at all. Result: players must receive 47% of revenue in salary, rookies received limited payment, and $1 billion for retired player benefits. -
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2011 NBA Lockout
This lockout was again centered around the collective bargaining agreement. The NBA locked out the league until a new deal was met with the NBA Players Association. Players wanted huge guaranteed pay-outs while owners wanted a hard salary cap and more revenue sharing because many were losing money. This led to a long debate that involved court cases regarding unfair labor and antitrust lawsuits from the league and players. In the end, a new 10-year deal was signed after some games were lost. -
NFL Referee 3 week lockout
With $3.2M in demands, referees were locked out by the league for a three week period until an agreement was reached. The NFL referees received a 8 year CBA including a 30% pay raise. -
Professional Soccer Referees Association Strike
The PSRA demands a CBA covering their wages and benefits. The MLS concedes a 5 year CBA.