Bloody Elbow reports that the UFC has issued a second email to its contracted fighters warning about the efforts by the Culinary Union 226 and the Teamsters to try and unionize the UFC.
According to an email obtained by BE’s John Nash, Zuffa’s EVP and Chief Legal Officer, Kirk Hendrick, issued an email inferring that unions will be issuing UFC athletes a “union card.” The email seems to be a FAQ if a fighter were to sign on with a union. It infers that signing a “union card” could mean that you lose status as an independent contractor and that the fighter may lose “bargaining power.” It also states that being a union may force the fighter “to be completely submissive to union bosses.” Additionally, fighters would be subjected to having union people that did not know anything about MMA tell them what to do. It also referenced a recent Las Vegas Review-Journal op-ed which dismisses the union.
The email from Zuffa seems to be contrary to the position taken by the Teamsters Union who indicated that they want to help the fighters create an association.
Payout Perspective:
The email is not surprising and fighters should take it with a grain of salt. It obviously extols the benefits of the present work relationship between Zuffa and its contracted fighters while providing the undertone that unions that have no idea about MMA might take control of their careers. Clearly Zuffa is advocating for the status quo as it is currently on an upswing in business.
Hahahaha…completely submissive to union bosses or dw dictatorship
Dw down on bendes knees….begging…..how insecure ufc is…
Just like they should take the Culinary Union’s public statements with a grain of salt.
They don’t give a shit about the fighters, this is a political battle for them. Believe it or not, they are worse for the fighters than the UFC is.
Look at how well the pay for other sports have improved for athletes in the NFL mlb and the nba once those sports implemented there unions.
The unions for those other leagues weren’t attempting to shutdown those given sports though.
The sports are still going strong and the players get paid and taken care of unlike ufc
Ufc is a monopoly and the fighters are waking up to it.
Ufc fanboys very quiet when it comes to unions dw gave instructions hahahaha…rousey married man issue and union or ali act….keep it quiet hahahahaha
Fag Fan takes it in the butt at his local Buffalo Wild Wings.