(June 21, 2002)

WNBA Players Union Files Unfair Labor Charge Against Liberty

NEW YORK NY (June 21, 2002) The union that represents Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) players filed an unfair labor practice charge against the New York Liberty, alleging that the team is illegally interfering with its right to meet with members. That and this from Bloomberg News' Scott Soshnick The Women's National Basketball Players Association filed the charge this afternoon at the National Labor Relations Board's regional office in New York.

The allegation comes as the league and union are nearing negotiations aimed at reaching a new collective bargaining agreement. The union wants higher salaries and more control of the marketing rights of players, who've said they might consider a strike if the league doesn't make concessions.

Pam Wheeler, the union's director of operations, said the Liberty banned her from entering the locker rooms before or after Sunday's Portland-New York game. The team also requested that Wheeler surrender the pass that allows her access to restricted areas, she said.

``For some reason there's been a radical change in the Liberty's policy regarding union access in the workplace,'' Wheeler said. ``We think it constitutes illegal conduct under the National Labor Relations Act.''

Team spokeswoman Brooke Lawer in an e-mail said the team wouldn't comment.

``We haven't seen the complaint and we'll look into it,'' said WNBA spokeswoman Maureen Coyle.

[Source: Bloomberg News' Scott Soshnick, SportsBusinessNews.com]