Files grievance

NFL players union files grievance challenging national anthem policy

By ELEANOR MUELLER

The National Football League Players Association filed a grievance Tuesday challenging the NFL’s newly imposed national anthem policy, the union said.

The complaint is “on behalf of all players challenging the NFL’s recently imposed anthem policy,” NFLPA said in a statement. “The union’s claim is that this new policy, imposed by the NFL’s governing body without consultation with the NFLPA, is inconsistent with the collective bargaining agreement.”

The policy, approved by team owners in May, requires athletes on the field to stand during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.“ Should a player or other team member refuse, or otherwise disrespect the song, the offending party will be subject to a fine.

The policy was put in place as a compromise move after President Donald Trump frequently railed against players for kneeling during the anthem in protest of racial and other injustice in America, particularly police brutality.

“Standing with locked arms is good, kneeling is not acceptable, Trump tweeted in September. “Bad ratings!”

In announcing the new policy, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league wanted people to be "respectful" of the national anthem."We want people to stand — that's all personnel — and make sure they treat this moment in a respectful fashion. That's something we think we owe," he said.

Though the policy gives players the option to remain in the locker room, it nevertheless “infringes on player rights,” NFLPA said in its statement.

The union plans to begin negotiations with the league over how to remedy the situation.

“In advance of our filing today, we proposed to the NFL to begin confidential discussions with the NFLPA Executive Committee to find a solution to this issue instead of immediately proceeding with litigation," NFLPA said in its statement. "The NFL has agreed to proceed with those discussions and we look forward to starting them soon.”