Players vote to approve NFL owners' proposed labor deal

NFL players have voted to approve a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that will expand the playoff field and allow owners the option to lengthen the regular season, the NFL Players' Association (NFLPA) said on Sunday.

The new 10-year labor deal extends through the 2030 season and offers increased compensation for every minimum-salary player, or about 60% of the NFL.

The players voted to approve ratification by a vote tally of 1,019 to 959, the league's players' association said on Twitter.

The league estimated as much as an additional $100 million will go to players this season. Both active and retired players will benefit.

"We are pleased that the players have voted to ratify the proposed new CBA, which will provide substantial benefits to all current and retired players, increase jobs, ensure continued progress on player safety, and give our fans more and better football," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.


Terms of the new CBA will increase the playoff field to 14 teams from 12 for the 2020 season and give owners the option to expand the regular season to 17 games from 16 as early as 2021.

Adding one regular season game for each of the NFL's 32 teams had been one of the more divisive elements of the deal and a number of prominent players considered it a health risk.

"We understand and know that players have been split on this deal, including members of our EC," the NFLPA Executive Committee said in a statement.

"Going forward, it is our duty to lead, however we may feel as individuals, to bring our men together and to continue to represent the interests of our entire membership."

Player reaction was mixed.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady Tweeted; "Well done, De," offering his support for the agreement and the work of NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith.

"Can't believe we agreed to that lol," Indianapolis Colts tight end Eric Ebron said on Twitter. "We can only play this game for so long and y'all didn't want everything we could get out of it?"

League owners approved the deal in February so only the players' approval remained to secure it.

Voting, which began with ballots sent to players on March 5, ended at 11:59 p.m ET Saturday (0359 GMT). The players' association estimated 2,500 players were eligible to vote.

With the approval, teams can start the new league year on Wednesday with Monday the deadline for putting a franchise or transition tag on players.

The NFLPA executive committee had voted in February not to recommend the proposal to membership for a vote but the players' association board of representatives later voted 17-14 to send the proposal to the full membership for a vote.

The deal will add two additional active spots to rosters, bringing them to a total of 55, and the number of padded practices at training camp will decrease from 28 to 16.

Changes to the drug policy also will be made including a reduction in penalties for players who test positive for THC (eliminating suspensions solely based on positive tests), an abbreviated testing window (from four months to two weeks at the start of training camp) and a significant increase in the threshold for a positive test. 

(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto and Gene Cherry in Raleigh, editing by Ed Osmond)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

How much will you be paid for working on holidays?

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has urged all private employers to pay their employers correctly during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz reminded the employers to observe the pay rules and other core labor standards.

"It's Christmas. Our employers should share the blessing and joy of the season and, in the interest of our workers' welfare and protection, pay them correctly during the holidays," Baldoz said.

Christmas Day (Wednesday), Rizal Day (Monday) and New Year’s Day (Wednesday) have been declared as regular holidays.

For regular holidays, the proper pay rules should be observed under Labor Advisory No. 6:

If the employee did not work, he shall be paid 100 percent of his salary for that day. Computation: (Daily rate + Cost of Living Allowance) x 100 percent. The COLA is included in the computation of holiday pay.

If the employee worked, he shall be paid 200 percent of his regular salary for that day for the first eight hours. Computation: (Daily rate + COLA) x 200 percent. The COLA is also included in computation of holiday pay.

If the employee worked in excess of eight hours (overtime work), he shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his hourly rate on said day. Computation: Hourly rate of the basic daily wage x 200 percent x 130 percent x number of hours worked.

If the employee worked during a regular holiday that also falls on his rest day, he shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his daily rate of 200 percent. Computation: (Daily rate + COLA) x 200 percent] + (30 percent [Daily rate x 200 percent)].

If the employee worked in excess of eight hours (overtime work) during a regular holiday that also falls on his rest day, he shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his hourly rate on said day. Computation: (Hourly rate of the basic daily wage x 200 percent x 130 percent x 130 percent x number of hours worked);

December 31 (Tuesday) is a special non-working day, while December 24 (Tuesday) is an additional special non-working day.

For special non-working days, the following pay rules apply:

If the employee did not work, the "no work, no pay" principle shall apply, unless there is a favorable company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement (CBA) granting payment on a special day.
 If the employee worked, he shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his daily rate on the first eight hours of work. Computation: [(Daily rate x 130 percent) + COLA).

If the employee worked in excess of eight hours (overtime work), he shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his hourly rate on said day. Computation: (Hourly rate of the basic daily wage x 130 percent x 130 percent x number of hours worked).

If the employee worked during a special day that also falls on his rest day, he shall be paid an additional 50 percent of his daily rate on the first eight hours of work. Computation: [(Daily rate x 150 percent) + COLA].

If the employee worked in excess of eight hours (overtime work) during a special day that also falls on his rest day, he shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his hourly rate on said day. Computation: (Hourly rate of the basic daily wage x 150 percent x 130 percent x number of hours worked).

Baldoz stressed that following pay rules on regular holidays and special non-working holidays “is a decent work standard that encourages productive and proficient workers.”

"Voluntary compliance with labor laws, including correct wage payment during holidays, denotes workplace excellence and redounds to the competitiveness of business and the country's industries," she added.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com