Charles Woodson jumped. Both feet. Until your shoulder pads and helmet.
Woodson "last week I was proud when many of my teammates and former announced its support for working families fight for their rights in Wisconsin," said. "Today I am honored to participate with them. Thousands of public Wisconsin dedicated workers provide vital services for the citizens of Wisconsin. They are teachers, nurses and child care workers who take care of us and our families. These people are employed under an unprecedented attack to take their basic rights to have a voice and negotiate collectively at work.
Super Bowl Champion Charles Woodson is the first big name to support unions, but it may not be the last. (AP) "It is an honor for me to play Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers and be a part of Green Bay and Wisconsin Communities. Also I am honored as a member of the NFL Players Association go alongside working families of Wisconsin and organized the work in their fight against this attempt to hurt them, directing the unions. I hope those leading the attack will sit down with Wisconsin's public workers and discuss the faces of Wisconsin issues so that together they can truly progress Wisconsin. "
And thus the first great name in sport plunged fray protest Wisconsin. A Union doing another, both realizing a fundamental reality: 2011 will be the year of assessment to all unions. Everywhere. In every walk of life. Sports will not be different.
I can say with certainty that NFL Union officials are watching the scenery Union carefully. In Tennessee, Indiana and Ohio, newly elected lawmakers are trying to reduce the powers of unions. The Association of players are thinking about getting involved in some of these struggles, using the popularity of the player to help boost public support for unions.
Statement by the Woodson is part of this strategy (his statement was released by the Association of players, not by the Packers). There is some risk to Woodson talk. It is a huge NFL figure, a player can Hall of Fame, and although it will receive support for their position of workers throughout the State, the protests if ugly, Woodson name now is officially attached to them.
But it doesn't seem to care because as a Union representative, Woodson understands how brutal battle is getting and will become. Each Union is watching Wisconsin sports and other potential battlegrounds Union. Each owner of NFL, too. NFL labor and management are thinking the same thing. If the back of the unions of Wisconsin are destroyed, unions sports eventually possible broken too?
By all accounts, the power of unions--their future, potentially their existence – could be determined by what is happening across the country now and in the coming months. The NFL is a long battle with the Union. The NBA is. The NHL and MLB trade unions are weaker than ever.
Hence the Wisconsin is so important to the Association of players. Wisconsin in many respects is the Tunisia of labour protests U.S. and athletes are getting involved. It won't be just Woodson. Soon you can listen to other high-profile NFL players from across the country around Wisconsin. Woodson opened the door. More may follow.
None of this is to say that an athlete rich deserves the same kind of sympathy or support as a teacher making $ 30000 per year. However, the process of collective bargaining is where rich and nurse share a common bond.
Collective bargaining is what has made athletes super-rich and super secure middle class.
The New York Times reported last month that EU membership in 2009 fell to 11.9%, the lowest rate in more than 70 years.
If the unions are dying a slow death, they're not going quietly. And you'll hear a lot more athletes like Woodson emerge.
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